Wo m e n i n R a i l
Rail industry celebrates the Women in Rail Awards Those working hard to promote gender balance, equality and diversity in the rail workforce have been recognised by a special awards ceremony
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he Women in Rail Awards received over 300 entries from a wide range of individuals, teams and companies in the railway industry, spreading across nine awards categories. Adeline Ginn MBE, Women in Rail founder and Group Strategy and Legal Director at CPMS, said: “A huge thank you to everyone who supported the Women in Rail Awards. “I am delighted we have been able to recognise and celebrate, albeit digitally, the inspirational contribution of all the winners of this year’s Women in Rail Awards.” Social Inclusion Award Costain Skanska Legacy Team What the judges said: “Costain Skanska joint venture has demonstrated a strong commitment and a pro-active mindset to social inclusion and developed innovative ways to reach out to local communities which success was supported by tangible evidence.” Highly Commended: The Parc Prison Collaboration Project Top Employer Award Southeastern Railway What the judges said: “Southeastern demonstrated a real drive to improve gender balance, diversity and inclusion in UK rail.” Highly Commended: AEGIS Engineering Systems (AES) Limited Best Apprenticeship Scheme Bombardier Transportation What the judges said: “Bombardier has developed a scheme specifically targeted at attracting women into rail.” Best Graduate Programme Rail Delivery Group What the judges said: “RDG has developed a Programme where graduates are given the chance to experience many parts of the industry, thus exposing them to the wide range of engineering roles available. Given its crossindustry focus, and the age profile time bomb of engineers who will exit our industry in the years to come, the Programme addresses a real issue.” 66 | October 2020
Inspirational Woman of the Year – Emma Dymond What the judges said: “We were impressed by Emma’s amazing achievements in compelling circumstances, her infectious energy and her determination to support the development of others around her. There was solid evidence of her being a role model to many and her contribution to improving gender balance, equality, diversity and inclusion in UK rail was undisputable.” Highly Commended: Heather Waugh – Train Driver, Freightliner Female Apprentice of the Year – Rachel Halliday What the judges said: “We were impressed by Rachel’s rate of progress and the amazing testimonials from long-serving (and no doubt mostly older) staff that she now manages. This must have been very hard to achieve and is a testament to both her strong technical and interpersonal skills.”
Rising Star of the Year – Vanessa Jasmine Burton What the judges said: “We found Vanessa’s nomination very powerful. There was a tremendous amount of positive comments around her personality and nurturing approach, as well as many solid examples of tangible technical delivery.” Highly Commended: Gemma Andrews, Design Manager, SCS Railways
Women in Rail Award – Paul Plummer Adeline Ginn MBE, Founder and Chair of Women in Rail, said: “Paul is truly committed to the gender balance, diversity and inclusion agenda in our industry and to the promotion of women of all backgrounds within the rail workforce.”
Inspirational Man of the Year – Simon Gallagher What the judges said: “We were struck not just by the actions and results in his current senior leadership role, but the actions he has taken across his entire career. It is clearly something embedded in him and earlier in his career, these would have been particularly bold steps to take.” railbusinessdaily.com