RailStaff Awards 2023 Brochure

RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

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#RMRSA23

CONTENTS 04 - WELCOME 05 - MEET THE RAIL MEDIA TEAM 06 - CELEBRITY HOST 07 - MEET OUR JUDGES 08 - ITINERARY 09 - MENU 10 - AWARD PRESENTERS 11 - THE FINALISTS 65 - CASINO, RIDES, AND PHOTO BOOTH 66 - MEET OUR SPONSORS 67 - THANK YOU

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

WELCOME WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO ANOTHER

FANTASTIC RAILSTAFF AWARDS

The industry has seen another busy and eventful 12 months, with highs, lows, and everything in between.

But tonight is a celebration of all the great people who make it happen. Each and every day, you provide a fantastic service to the British public, and we’re delighted to be able to shine a spotlight on all of your achievements.

A huge congratulations to all those who were nominated. It’s been a record-breaking year with almost 1,500 nominations and 144,000 votes cast, and each one has earned the admiration of their peers.

Best of luck to our finalists. It is an honour to have you here tonight.

The RailStaff Awards has become more spectacular with each passing year, and tonight you’ll see a party like no other. You’ll be dazzled by astounding aerial performers, heart-stopping high wire acts and fearless fire dancers, and a captivating grand finale.

You’ll experience exhilarating entertainment and get the full VIP treatment, with all the decadence and indulgence that brings.

Bask in the warm glow of our dazzling party venue.

Once inside, you’ll be greeted by sparkling golds and dancing beams of light, and the celebrations in full flow. Make your way to the bar where professional mixologists will create iconic drinks, and skilfully serve the finest beers, spirits, and wines.

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Take your seats for dinner, and the focus moves to the main stage as the evening’s entertainment gathers pace, and world-class performers pull off impossible feats to a backdrop of flames and mesmerising lighting. And then, the reason we’re all here, the Awards ceremony begins, and each of the 18 categories’ winners are named to deafening applause.

But it doesn’t end there.

The real party begins once all of the winners are announced, and you can join them in celebration until the early hours. Casino tables await, along with fairground rides, and a bustling dancefloor, but if you prefer you can take coffee and catchup with old friends.

Eventually, the night must come to a close, but you’ll take home wonderful memories along with the warm glow of honouring the stars of our great rail industry.

Prepare for a truly spectacular night.

You’ve all earned every minute of it!

The RailStaff Awards Team

#RMRSA23

MEET THE RAIL MEDIA TEAM

Adam O’Connor

Asif Ahmed

Gemma King

Maisy Weston

Managing Director

Events Manager

Matt Atkins Editor

Sales Director

Craig Smith

Account Manager

Pat Tollar

Manda Wright

Events Team

Lauren Palin

Graphic Designer

David King

Account Manager

Events Team

Diane Smith Events Team

Andrew Smith Events Team

Events Team

Ian

Official Event Photographer

Colin Bowden Consultant

Raf Ahmed

Marketing Manager

Greg

Official Event Photographer

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

CELEBRITY HOST YOUR HOST FOR TONIGHT Tonight’s ceremony is hosted by one of TV and Radio’s best-loved stars, Gethin Jones.

A proud Welshman, Gethin is a firm family favourite, starting his TV career on S4C, where he hosted the music show Popty as well youth magazine show Uned 5.

Following this, Gethin shot to fame as a Blue Peter presenter. His stint on the time-honoured show saw him break four world records, complete three death-defying tasks, and fulfil the ambition of a lifetime by flying with the Red Arrows. In his three years as a presenter, he visited 32 countries and took on some of the most extreme, scary, and strangest challenges imaginable.

Since then, Gethin has appeared in countless high-profile shows. He was a Strictly Come Dancing semi-finalist in 2007 and toured nationwide with the Strictly Come Dancing arena tour in 2009. He has hosted game show Sell Me The Answer for Sky1 and presented a weekly entertainment news show for BBC News. On top of this, Gethin has narrated BBC’s Young Musician of the Year, co-presented on BBC’s The One Show, and presented shows for the National Lottery. He is currently presenting Morning Live every weekday morning on BBC 1.

Gethin’s career in radio has been just as successful. He hosted The Gethin Jones Show for Radio 5 Live on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and has gone on to present shows on Heart FM, The Hits Radio, and BBC Radio Wales.

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Despite his accomplishments in broadcasting, Gethin wasn’t always destined for the airwaves, studying for a degree in Economics and Geography. However, his skills on the piano and violin saw him become leader of three County orchestras and play with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall. The small screen soon beckoned.

Along with his passion for music, Gethin is a keen rugby enthusiast. As well as representing Lancashire and having trials with Sale RFC, he hosted the official podcast for this year’s Rugby World Cup. So, sit back and relax as Gethin takes the reigns and guides you through the night’s festivities.

You’re in safe hands. He’s a consummate professional with an anecdote to entertain any audience, and he’s here to make the RailStaff Awards that extra bit special.

#RMRSA23

OUR JUDGES INDEPENDENT PANEL AMY ‘BESSIE’ MATTHEWS RailStaff Awards, Rail Person of the Year Winner 2022

KARL GILMORE Transport for Wales, Rail Infrastructure Director

ROB MORTON Network Rail, Managing Director Route Services

BONNIE PRICE Young Rail Professionals, Chairwoman

FIONA BRUNSKILL Transport for London, Chief People Officer

MATT ATKINS RailStaff, Editor

EDWARD HODSON IOSH Railway Group, Chair

RICHARD THORP High Speed 1 Ltd (HS1), Director of Engineering & Sustainability

DAVID SHIRRES Rail Engineer, Editor

CAT EG ORY J UD GE S ALAN WILSON

DARREN BROADHEAD

JO GRETTON

ROB MULLEN

Managing Director

Global Health & Safety Leadership Specialist and co-Founder

Chief Executive Officer

Managing Director

Train’d Up

Broadhead Global

Telent

Trenitalia c2c Ltd

ANDY MOSS

DAVID TAYLOR

JOHN SHEEHY

SAMANTHA FACEY

Chief Customer Officer

Account Director Mainline Rail

Chief Executive Officer Transport Benevolent Fund CIO

Health, Safety and Security Director

City & Guilds Training (Intertrain)

Thales Ground Transportation Systems UK

CATHERINE MILLER

ERIN NEILSON

JULIE BENTLEY

STEFANI DUPREE

Business Support Manager

Head of Human Resources

Chief Executive Officer

Human Resources & Communications Manager

Rhomberg Sersa

Readypower Group

Samaritans

TSO

CHRIS WRIGHT

GLYNIS APPELBE

MARK COLEMAN

WAYNE THOMPSON

Managing Director

HR Director

Managing Director

Technical Director

Keolis / Nottingham Trams

G&W UK/Europe Region/Freightliner

GeoAccess

Inspire Structures Ltd

GTR

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

ITINERARY This year’s RailStaff Awards fizz and pop with excitement, celebrating everything that shimmers and sparkles, and all that is decadent and indulgent.

You’ll experience exhilarating entertainment, fabulous food, and an electric atmosphere from the moment you arrive.

You’ll be astonished by amazing aerial performers, heart-stopping high wire acts, and fearless fire dancers.

Make your way to the main bar area, where the electric atmosphere of the night becomes apparent. Catch up with friends old and new as our mixologists experiment with colourful concoctions.

Take a seat for dinner as the evening begins in earnest, then, when the fabulous finalists are announced, let your hair down and dance the night away.

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18.00

VIP guest arrival & drinks reception with canapes

18.00

Guest arrival & drinks reception

19.00

Dinner

21.00

Entertainment & Awards presentation (with interval)

23.00

Disco & fairground rides

24.00

Midnight breakfast

01:00

Carriages

#RMRSA23

STARTER »

Roasted vine ripened tomato soup, drizzled with a basil oil and topped with toasted pumpkin seeds V/GF/DF/VG

OR »

MENU

Gin cured Scottish salmon with cold water king prawns, a sweet beetroot mayonnaise, fresh cucumber relish, brioche crumble and pea shoots

MAIN COURSE »

Pan roasted breast of chicken, sage & thyme stuffing, roasted hasselback new potatoes, festive red cabbage, brussel sprouts, maple roasted carrots, pig in blanket and rich smooth gravy GFA/DFA/HA

OR »

Sweet potato & red onion marmalade seeded tart on roasted red pepper coulis and wilted winter greens topped with carrot and courgette ribbons V/DF/GF/VG

DESSERT »

Warm indulgent chocolate brownie with salted caramel ice cream and chocolate sauce V

OR »

Baked mascarpone cheesecake, buttery biscuit base and a jammy blueberry compote V/GF/VGA/DFA

OR »

A selection of cheese, biscuits & homemade chutney V/GFA

FRESHLY GROUND COFFEE, TEAS & CHOCOLATES »

Coffee and chocolates from stations around the room

MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST »

Crispy bacon in floured rolls GFA

»

Vegan sausages in floured rolls V/GFA/DF/VG

V – Vegetarian, GF – Gluten Free, DF – Dairy Free, VG – Vegan, HA - Halal Available GFA – Gluten Free Available, DFA – Dairy Free Available, VGA – Vegan Option Available

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

PRESENTERS APPRENTICE OR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

RECRUITMENT & TALENT ACQUISITION PERSON OR TEAM

HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD

ANDY MOSS

STUART BROWNING

SAMANTHA FACEY

Chief Customer Officer

Safety, Sustainability & Compliance Director

Health, Safety & Security Director

City & Guilds Training (Intertrain)

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Trenitalia c2c Ltd

GTR

AWARD FOR CHARITY

SAMARITANS LIFESAVER

LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT & INVESTING IN PEOPLE AWARD

REPRESENTATIVE

JASON ALEXANDRE

ANTONY KEARNS

-

Network Rail Training Officer

Managing Director

Rail Delivery Group

Samaritans

Rhomberg Sersa

DIGITAL RAILWAY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD

RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR

RAIL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

DAVID TAYLOR

SCOTT BICKNELL

MARK COLEMAN

Account Director Mainline Rail

Managing Director

Managing Director

Thales Ground Transportation Systems UK

NGE / TSO SAS - UK

GeoAccess

DEPOT & FREIGHT STAFF AWARD

SAFETY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

CHRIS WRIGHT

TRACEY CHEUNG

JO GRETTON

Managing Director

Head of HR

Chief Executive Officer

Keolis / Nottingham Trams

Amulet

Telent

SUSTAINABILITY & NET ZERO PERSON OR TEAM

HR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PERSON OR TEAM

RAIL TEAM OF THE YEAR

KATY BROADHEAD

TIM SHOVELLER

ALAN WILSON

Business & Strategy Director

Chief Executive Officer

Managing Director

Broadhead Global

Freightliner

Train’d Up

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

STATION STAFF AWARD

RAIL PERSON OF THE YEAR

RUSSELL JACK

ROB JONES

WAYNE THOMPSON

Chief Executive Officer

CIO, Chair of Trustees

Technical Director

Readypower Rail Services

TBF

Inspire Structures

#RMRSA23

APPRENTICE OR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR City & Guilds Training is proud to sponsor this award which recognises the outstanding contribution of individuals who are new to rail, or who have made a career change and become an apprentice. Each finalist is an extraordinary talent, whose persistence results in professional achievement.

CAROLINE SPENCE

DANIEL CRAIG EVANS

AVANTI WEST COAST

NETWORK RAIL

Caroline successfully applied for the trainee driver position at Avanti West Coast after previously working in the customer relations and performance teams. Using her knowledge and experience, she has been able to advise other trainee drivers where appropriate, while not overstepping her authority.

Whether assisting other trainee drivers, listening and learning from experienced drivers, or reporting operational issues professionally and in a timely manner, Caroline exemplifies a level of dedication, focus, and professionalism any manager would be proud of.

Daniel joined Network Rail as a Graduate Electrical Engineer in September 2022 and has approached the role with great enthusiasm. By instilling his values of hard work, dedication, team ethos, and going the extra mile, he has taken up several challenges that have had a positive impact on the entire organisation. Daniel is a shining example to all the graduates joining Network Rail. His desire to learn, enthusiasm towards rail, and his dedication to creating positive change is paving the way for future graduates.

DAVID FOX

JAMIE WYNESS

LUMO

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

Coming from the world of hospitality and having no previous experience in the railway industry before joining Lumo, in just 18 months, David has solidified himself as a key driver for positive change within the business and is considered an integral part of the team. Quickly mastering his initial customer facing role, he was taken completely out of his comfort zone with a promotion to Planning, Performance and Resource Lead, a key leadership role within the business, and has made himself indispensable, completely transforming Lumo’s Train Planning function and has drastically improved key processes and systems.

Since joining SWR as a 16-year-old apprentice, Jamie has defied his age greatly.

He’s a people person, calm, polite, and works hard every day. Jamie always sets an example for his colleagues and everyone around him when delivering great customer service.

He works hard and with a smile on his face, even in stressful and unknown situations. Despite being one of the company’s youngest employees, he shines a light of inspiration on everyone within SWR.

JASMINE LAZENBY

KALEN RUDDOCK

CROSSCOUNTRY

ALSTOM

Self-effacing, reflective, engaged, and people focused, Jasmine shone during her time at CrossCountry’s training school. Over her three months of training, Jasmine grew and managed to successfully find a balance between missing her family and coping with the stress and anxieties of the course. Jasmine’s whole attitude toward what is achievable, despite both personal and logistical barriers, is hugely impressive. She has laid the foundations for a great career with CrossCountry.

Joining Alstom in September 2021, Kalen hit the ground running. Unafraid of any challenge, he has embraced every opportunity to develop his skill set and progress. Though he is new to the industry, Kalen has proved to be extremely competent and has been instrumental in the latest iteration of Alstom’s pioneering Infinity Modular Control System (MCS) VDU signallers’ workstation.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

APPRENTICE OR NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR cont.

KAROLINA SZPIGIEL GREATER ANGLIA

LEON JONES TRAIN’D UP Leon excelled in his L4 Assessor Coach Apprenticeship, taking ownership of his learning and helping problem solve where challenges arose for his peers.

Leon started out in one cohort and was moved to another due to the cancellation of sessions, but this didn’t phase him and he enjoyed the opportunity to mix with a different group. He has been proactive rather than reactive and will take lead parts in workshops while asking searching questions to make the group think.

Karolina joined Greater Anglia for a placement year while at university in 2021. She took to the role as marketing executive very quickly and threw herself into a wide variety of work. Since returning to Greater Anglia following her graduation with a First-Class Honours degree in Management and Marketing from the University of Essex, Karolina has once again shown her versatility and today works on a wide range of projects from social media planning, informational comms, and branding.

LUCY ROBINSON FAITHFUL+GOULD

MELONY QUIGLEY

Lucy achieved the position of a degree apprentice project manager in 2022. Her ability to positively influence all tasks she has been involved in has been widely acknowledged. Equally, her willingness to listen and proactively apply her learning is invaluable to her colleagues, who have entrusted her with additional responsibilities as her skill set has developed. Lucy’s phenomenal work and dedication have seen her appointment to the position of social value co-lead at F&G, in addition to her role as project manager for the RSA CAD Common Data Environment workstream.

TRENITALIA C2C LTD Mel joined c2c in February 2023, as a customer delivery manager, working at the London terminal station on Fenchurch Street. Her impact has been immediate and overwhelmingly positive. She is a true leader. Someone who is visible, approachable, and never shy in taking on a challenge. Mel has demonstrated, on many occasions, her willingness to get directly involved in any situation that her team would find themselves in, be it dealing with customers, antisocial behaviour, or in supporting vulnerable young people who require a safeguarding intervention.

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MILES WOOTTON DIGISIG RAIL GROUP LTD Miles joined the company as an apprentice in June 2021. He has proven himself time and time again to be dependable, extremely hard working, and very keen to learn. He was the first in his peer group of 17 other apprentices to achieve his Signalling Design License and he won the Educationwise ‘Most Potential Apprentice of the Year Award’ in 2022. Miles demonstrates good confidence in his work and in his own ability, and is always happy to help his peers.

#RMRSA23 RILEY BARNES GTR Riley joined the Network Operations Department at Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre as an apprentice in June 2022. He has always wanted to work in the rail industry and, despite being the youngest person in the team, he is not afraid to bring fresh ideas and a different perspective to the table. He embraces every challenge he faces and isn’t afraid to seek help from senior colleagues when it’s needed. He has the potential to grow as a brilliant leader as well as a team member.

SAMUEL MATTHEWS TRANSPORT FOR WALES Sam joined Transport for Wales’s Customer Integration Team at the end of 2022 as an apprentice project manager. He immediately made a huge impact with his customer centric approach and can-do attitude. Samuel has led on level boarding of the Core Valley line stations, a project that will ensure customers are able to travel with ease and confidence across the Network. Sam has a natural gift with people, and his enthusiasm at creating a more inclusive journey for customers is evident in the energy he brings to each project he takes on.

SMITAL DHAKE ALSTOM Since joining the rail industry in July 2022, Smital Dhake has already made an enormous impact, quickly establishing collaborative relationships, achieving IRSE competence, and delivering safety-related works in record time. She has helped to develop team members and create a more inclusive working environment. Smital has also been an inspiration to the team since she joined, thanks to her positive attitude, quick grasp of the technical aspects of design, and her willingness to take on challenging tasks.

SONNIE GRAINGER SOUTHERN Since joining Metro South in July 2022, Sonnie has consistently demonstrated outstanding commitment, enthusiasm, and exceptional contributions to the team and operations. Sonnie quickly integrated into the team and proved to be an invaluable asset from day one. Their ability to adapt to new challenges and their willingness to go above and beyond expectations have been truly remarkable. What sets Sonnie apart is their continuous pursuit of excellence and their dedication to learning and growth.

RailStaff Awards 2023 City & Guilds Proud sponsors of the Apprentice or Newcomer of the year Award cityandguilds.com railway-training-courses.com

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

AWARD FOR CHARITY All nominees for the Award for Charity go out of their way to support, promote, and raise money for the most incredible causes. They do this on top of their stellar work for the rail industry. This year, the award is sponsored by the Rail Delivery Group which is proud to promote a message of kindness, compassion, and dedication to a good cause.

ALEX GARNETT - SCHERER

CHARLES DICKSON

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

SOUTHERN

Alex is a passionate and dedicated supporter of many charities, including the Poppy Appeal.

His charitable efforts has raised over £10,000 for LGBTQIA+, Windrush, and Sickle Cell Society charities over the last two years by selling themed roundel badges to raise money. He does so much of this charity work in his own time and is driven by the desire to bring communities together by ensuring the proceeds from the badges are distributed to charities that are making a real difference in the community.

CRAIG MURPHY

DENISE VINCENT

MERSEYRAIL

GREATER ANGLIA

Craig’s exceptional dedication to enhancing the safety and camaraderie within his team is truly commendable. He has worked tirelessly towards improving safety standards, demonstrating his commitment to creating a safer network for all. His warm and welcoming demeanour extends beyond the workplace. Craig was the lead in putting together the Depot Liverpool Half Marathon in March 2023. Running for Parkinson’s UK, Craig, his wife, and 16 others raised nearly £9,000.

Denise goes above and beyond with her charity work, supporting multiple charities and providing ideas to make fundraising fun for all involved. She is always looking for new ways to raise money and get everyone on her team involved. This year, the team have raised money for the Teenage Cancer Trust via a virtual climb up Mount Everest.

She also planned and organised a bake sale at the station, to raise further funds for the charity.

IAIN PERRY

KAYLEIGH SMITH AND STEVIE JAMES

GTR

GTR

Iain is passionate about running, but also has a passion for helping others. When not carrying out his day job as a rail enforcement officer for GTR, Iain puts in the miles. In 2021, Iain undertook the Brighton Marathon with teammates for MIND raising £1,570. In 2022, another £1,611 was raised in Brighton. His drive and commitment are a true indication of his character and his desire to continue to help others is commendable.

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Charles has donated to numerous charities in Ghana, West Africa for many years. From small donations, such as sending clothes, toiletries, and everyday essentials, to large monetary contributions to help provide funds to schools and even building schools and water supplies.

Charles displays the love he has for people of all ages. This selflessness alone is worthy of recognition.

Through the trauma of three miscarriages, Kayleigh and Stephen, realising there was no support for people enduring this pain, have established a charity to support men and women going through the loss of their babies.

The founding of the Mariposa Trust was a hugely selfless act.

When it would have been easier to bury their heads in the sand, they did something amazing to help others. Their dedication and commitment to the charity should be commended.

#RMRSA23 MARK FIELDING-SMITH ATKINSRÉALIS Mark is a force of nature when it comes to charitable work and raising money for causes close to his heart. The Railway Children is of particular importance to Mark and, during his career in the rail industry, he has had a leading role in raising over £150,000 to help the charity keep vulnerable children off the streets. Outside of work, he frequently completes endurance events to raise even more money for charity.

He is a true superstar.

MARK GOODALL CROSSCOUNTRY Mark set up the registered charity, Cosy Coats, which raises money to provide new winter coats to school children from disadvantaged and underprivileged backgrounds. These are new coats, not second-hand, so the children do not have the stigma of always having ‘hand-me-downs’, which could lead to bullying and exclusion. Mark also actively engages in fundraising himself, completing fun runs and other money raising activities.

Our purpose is to create a simpler, better railway for everyone in Britain.

MICHAEL KING GREATER ANGLIA For years, Michael has been organising collections of easter eggs for children in local hospitals. Last year there were so many that he managed to give some to the local food bank, which prompted him to organise a food bank collection across several stations. He has also single handedly planned, organised, and delivered charity events for the past few years. His actions rally the members of his team, engage the local community, and enhance Greater Anglia’s name.

RDG is proud to support the RailStaff Awards Charity Category 2023.

Congratulations to all those nominated.

MICHAEL MANDERS HULL TRAINS The London Marathon, The Great North Run, and the Yorkshire Marathon are just a few of the many ventures Mike Manders, On Board Manager at Hull Trains, has taken on in the past 12 months to raise money for Action for Children, a charity close to his heart. Mike also uses his charitable efforts to speak about important topics, including mental health, with his team.

raildeliverygroup.com

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

AWARD FOR CHARITY

cont.

MOBILE OPERATIONS TEAM NETWORK RAIL NETWORK RAIL N&E

SIMONE CARTER WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS Simone is a much-loved and well-known member of staff and uses social media to get the public and customers at the station to engage with George Stourbridge Junction’s cat. George is the face of Simone’s fundraising activities and together they raise much needed funds for important charities in the local area, such as West Midlands Stray Cat Rescue and Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Simone regularly gives her time and energy to help people, writing inspirational daily messages to help people who are struggling with life.

SUSAN TEMPLE

Doug Pratt, John Stocks, Gary Crompton, and Steve Billam have tackled The Three Peaks Challenge, a task of epic proportions, in the name of charity.

Together, they overcame steep ascents and challenging terrain all in aid of Railway Children, walking 23 miles up and down Yr Wyddfa, Scafell Pike, and Ben Nevis, climbing over 10,000 ft. In addition to raising funds through sponsors, they rallied their railway colleagues into offering prizes for auction. In total they raised over £11,000.

STEWART HALL AND DARIN ASTBURY NORTHERN Customer service assistants Stewart Hall and Darin Astbury, have been hugely influential in helping turn around the fortunes of Brinnington station in Stockport, Greater Manchester, which had previously been a hotspot for anti-social behaviour. Stewart and Darin set up a ‘Swap Shop’ at the station which helps those in the local community in need of food, clothes, books, and other household items. The scheme proved incredibly popular and now five volunteers are helping to coordinate donations.

SCOTRAIL Susan puts her community at the heart of everything she does and makes a huge difference to people’s lives across the west of Scotland. She has recently been awarded the Provost’s Choice award at the Renfrewshire Inspirational Awards for her various charitable endeavours. Among other things, Susan supports local families at Christmas, supports the Glasgow, Inverclyde, and Renfrewshire branches of Women’s Aid, and regularly donates clothing for local homelessness and drug rehabilitation projects. In addition to all of this, Susan works full time at Johnstone station.

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THE ALEX WARDLE SWR TEAM SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY The Alex Wardle foundation was set up by SWR operations trainer, Steve Wardle, whose son Alex tragically died a few years ago from Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome. No one knew Alex had this condition and it came as such a shock to his family. The Alex Wardle SWR Team has been working tirelessly to promote the need for easily accessible defibrillators across communities, and has worked to provide over 100 defibrillators to all staffed stations on the SWR network.

#RMRSA23

DIGITAL RAILWAY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD This award honours those who work tirelessly to keep the trains running safely and smoothly despite incredible challenges. These individuals and teams inspire change and drive improvements across the UK’s critical infrastructure to deliver a positive impact for society.

ADAM STANLEY

ATKINSRÉALIS STATION ACCESSIBILITY AUDIT TEAM

NETWORK RAIL

ATKINSRÉALIS

Adam Stanley is an On Track Plant Specialist for the Wales Route. Adam recognised the challenges around restricted possession access, improvements to safety, fatigue, and team delivery to meet compliance. Over the past two years he has tirelessly championed the use of drones to improve on these challenges in addition to his normal duties. As a result, the Wales Route has seen a reduction in signalman workload and boots on ballast, reduced fatigue, and increased customer satisfaction.

This team is nominated for the ground-breaking work they have delivered to address the problem of accessibility at stations. The team delivered an end-to-end solution that relied on the first-hand collection and validation of network-wide audit data, which was collected and stored within a cloud-based solution and presented within an integrated data visualisation dashboard. Station user accessibility needs were compiled first hand via workshops made up of people with lived experience of disabilities.

BARNABY KENT

DEAN BOLTON

ONE BIG CIRCLE

TRANSPORT FOR WALES

A colleague said: “Barnaby has created a product for the railway that is evolving all the time and continually bringing benefits to staff and the industry through engagement and openness about how the system can help improve safety and conditions of the railway. Ideas are embraced and this is helping the rail industry and its staff become safer and more productive.”

Dean Bolton is nominated for his commitment and passion to transforming his team’s working life and improving the operational railway. Dean sadly passed away unexpectedly in February 2023, less than a week after the go-live of a transformational project spanning three years.

There is no doubt that the success of getting this major digital transformation over the line was in a large part down to Dean.

His legacy will never be forgotten.

FREIGHTLINER ERTMS PROJECT TEAM

GARY CRAIG

FREIGHTLINER

NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND

The Freightliner ERTMS Project Team is nominated in recognition of their outstanding achievements over the past year. This dedicated team has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment, innovation, and collaboration in the field of ERTMS and its planned introduction on the East Coast Mainline. The team’s accomplishments are nothing short of remarkable. The team has not only exceeded expectations but also paved the way for the future of ERTMS implementation and training in the rail industry.

Gary Craig is line manager to the construction, project management and engineering teams in works delivery Scotland Signalling. He gives sound advice and guides the signalling team to achieve ORR, Safety, and TARR milestones, as well as the track, civils, and E&P teams, for all their signalling engineering and construction management needs. He is the Project Manager, CRE for Signalling Construction and CEM for Construction on all of Network Rail’s works delivery signalling projects, which is a huge responsibility.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

DIGITAL RAILWAY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD cont.

GSM-R ENGINEERING TEAM NETWORK RAIL

MARC SILVERWOOD NORTHERN The ‘digital train’ programme was a multimillion-pound investment to make sure Northern’s older trains have the same digital facilities as the 101 new trains it introduced into service in 2021. The team – led by Marc Silverwood and William Edwards – has re-fitted 233 trains with Wi-Fi, HD CCTV cameras, live passenger information screens, and 17,200 USB charging sockets. The upgrades mean customers right across Northern’s network can enjoy enhanced digital facilities on their journeys – whether they’re on a new train or an older one.

NETWORK RAIL AND KONUX NETWORK DELIVERY TEAM KONUX UK LTD A huge amount of data is collected by the rail industry every day, with huge potential value.

Building the capability to leverage this data and provide benefits to maintainers, operators, and rail users has remained a true challenge until now. Network Rail and KONUX UK Ltd created a unique, cross-functional team to deliver network-wide benefits through the application of AI techniques to existing but disparate and disconnected data sources. The project has proven the value of utilising data for better monitoring, modelling, and management of rail networks.

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In the early 2000’s, the fledgling GSM-R engineering team delivered the first British deployment of GSM-R supporting Interim Voice Radio System drivers’ handsets. The challenge continued through the noughties as the requirements of the UK mainland operational concept needed to be turned into a reality. At the end of the decade, GSM-R as we know it was born and the national rollout concluded in 2014. Now, as Europe puts the finishing-touches to the Future Railway Communications System (FRMCS), the team must continue managing GSM-R while the new network is developed and deployed.

METRO SOUTH SOUTHERN

OPERATIONS TEAM SOUTHERN

The Metro South Southern Operations Team received their nomination for their implementation and delivery of digital notice cases at Norwood Depot. The original concept to move Norwood Depot into the digital age was raised by the Norwood Driver Management Team, who identified the need to improve the environment of drivers. The team imagined a fully digital late notice case which could be published in hi-definition from the Selhurst RM office with a lightning quick reactive turnaround time. Not only ensuring clear and speedy communication but also impacting the environment positively too. This has made Norwood Depot a national pioneer of digitally displayed safety notices.

RAFAEL CARNEIRO SOUTHERN Rafael is nominated in recognition of his exceptional contributions to Southern’s Driver Operations Team. He has consistently demonstrated remarkable ability to innovate and introduce new systems and working methods that have significantly advanced the company’s Driver Operation. As well as leading his team of drivers, Rafael has been at the forefront of innovation within the sector, and he has consistently exhibited a passion for improving efficiency, innovation, and safety reporting for Southern’s operations.

#RMRSA23 REBECCA MEECHAN NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND Rebecca regularly demonstrates her considerable talent and enthusiasm for digital content. Her creativity has made a fantastic impact using internal communication channels to showcase the great work going on across Scotland’s Railway. This is always done with originality, using innovative methods and humour to reach her target audience. She has been a pivotal member of the planning and delivery team for two flagship internal conferences, where her superb organisational skills ensured the events ran smoothly and attendees were fully engaged.

REQUEST TO STOP TEAM TELENT Telent’s Request to Stop Team have shown a strong commitment to providing robust, innovative solutions in a challenging technical environment, with an emphasis on professionalism and safety. Their commitment to the railway, and in particular the RETB Signalling System, has aided the successful close out of the Far North Line Enhancements Programme, most notably the new Request to Stop System.

SCOTLAND’S RAILWAY’S COMMUNICATION TEAMS NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND / SCOTRAIL The severe weather that hit Scotland between 6-8 October 2023 caused line closures and damage for several days, but it was met with almost universal praise and support from the public. All those involved at Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail gave a stunning display of how to look after people during disruption.

The outstanding communication teams at Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail went over and above to provide passengers and staff with information, updates, and visuals. Their actions ensured the decisions taken by leaders were fully appreciated, understood, and supported.

YUJI ISAYAMA WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS Yuji looks after a huge variety of digital channels and promotions across West Midlands Trains from email marketing, website development, app development, search engine optimisation, and all things digital.

He is an asset to the marketing team and company and always pushes to bring rail into the 21st century. His objective is always to do what is best for the company, the customer, and the rail industry as a whole.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

DEPOT & FREIGHT STAFF AWARD Keolis sponsors this award which rewards those who are amazing at their job in or around the depot or within the freight sector. Whether tackling logistical or transport challenges or managing tricky situations and incidents at their depot, these individuals all deserve our applause.

ALL DEPOTS SUPPORTING THE MENDIP CONTRACT MENDIP EASTLEIGH READING BRISTOL ACTON THAMESPORT

ANTONY ROE AND ROBERT CANN

FREIGHTLINER

FREIGHTLINER

Since taking over the Mendip contract on 3 November 2019, all Freightliner staff, both front line and in the offices at London, Crewe, and Ferrybridge, have strived to deliver a robust and reliable service to their key stakeholders at MRL. Since the start of the contract, regular weeks have seen over 130 trains run, with a record of 140 trains running in a single week and 206,000 tonnes transported. None of this would be possible without the dedication, flexibility, and hard work of the committed staff at multiple depots and locations.

CAMBRIDGE DRIVERS TEAM

DANIEL FREDRIKSSON

CROSSCOUNTRY

GREAT BRITISH RAILWAYS TRANSITION TEAM

Each year CrossCountry holds a safety culture survey to understand the level of focus on safety in each depot and, for the past several years, Cambridge has achieved the highest response rate and safety culture score within the business. The depot has not had a SPAD for over 15 years which is unprecedented in the industry.

Recently it was recognised for its exceptional safety record and was awarded a prestigious CrossCountry Safety Award.

After many years working in the rail freight sector, in 2021, Dan started a new role at GBRTT supporting the emerging Express Freight market. Increasing rail freight is one of the most important aims for GBRTT and the wider industry. Dan’s work is vital to rail freight’s growth over the coming years. His innovation, passion, and desire to support the freight sector is second to none and his work will have a huge impact on opportunities for the freight sector, while contributing to net zero targets.

DAVE ECCLES

DAVID JENKINSON

FREIGHTLINER

DB CARGO UK

A colleague said the following of Dave Eccles: “Dave lives and breathes Freightliners ‘Safety First’ values. I’ve witnessed him challenge unsafe behaviours, spot unsafe conditions, and act as a safety ambassador whilst still finding solutions so that we can provide a great service to our customers.”

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Mentors play a vital role in the route to competence for Freightliner groundstaff. Each new trainee is allocated a mentor who is responsible for ensuring they put the theory into practice. At Basford Hall, the largest freight yard in the UK, Antony Roe and Robert Cann are helping to turn trainees into professional groundstaff. Since starting, they have mentored five members of staff who are all now members of the Heavy Haul team at Crewe.

Dave Jenkinson is the personification of a professional railway person. His enthusiasm to deliver a customer focused outcome is second to none and he will always go above and beyond to achieve the best outcome, taking safety and delivery into account. His attitude to delivering safe, efficient, and customer focused outcomes never wavers and translates to the drivers and groundstaff in his team wanting to go the extra mile on his behalf.

#RMRSA23 ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS TEAM C2C TRENITALIA C2C LTD Over the last 12 months, the Engineering & Operations team at c2c has worked tirelessly to deliver a high performing railway, regardless of the situation.

They’ve shown great teamwork and resilience when faced with challenges from extreme weather days, soil moisture deficit infrastructure challenges, and strike. This is all on top of managing the day job, a huge depot works project at East Ham Depot and the delivery, training, safety validation, and introduction of new Class 720s on their route.

ENGINEERING TEAM SWR SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY The SWR Fleet Engineering team has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment through their tireless efforts which go above and beyond their job descriptions. One of the outstanding achievements of this team was its involvement in the Class 458 uplift project, which helped ensure SWR had sufficient trains to fulfil its diagrams, avoiding service cancellations and delays. The SWR staff nominated for this award exhibited exceptional dedication, teamwork, and innovation in addressing a critical challenge.

GARY DOUGLAS FREIGHTLINER A colleague of Gary said: “Gary was tasked with being my mentor and showing me the day-to-day operations. His expertise and knowledge was displayed by the way he put me at ease and gave me the confidence I needed to perform to the best of my ability. I cannot thank Gary enough for how he helped me at the start of my management career.”

GB RAILFREIGHT FELIXSTOWE OPERATIONS TEAM GB RAILFREIGHT Mike Flatt and Dave Kidd have completely transformed the performance of GBRf’s Felixstowe Operations team. The Felixstowe team service had been one GBRf’s best performing teams but, in summer 2022, work was needed to ensure that ground staff felt supported with their workload and development. Mike and Dave set about reviewing the recruitment process, listening to staff, and establishing an upskilling program.

Their efforts have improved the team’s performance and enabled it to swiftly adapt to new opportunities.

Congratulations to all the Railstaff Awards 2023 winners !

Our people are our priority

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

DEPOT & FREIGHT STAFF AWARD cont.

JAKE BLOOD FREIGHTLINER

JOSH WEBSTER FREIGHTLINER Josh has an incredible ability to multi-task while ensuring accuracy and fulfilling operational rostering as needed. He has a keen eye for detail, a great ability to shuffle things around to meet the demands of the business, and, at the drop of a hat, can adapt to huge operational changes. He is a dedicated, professional individual, who always has time for his colleagues.

Jake is a true professional who enjoys his job and is always looking for ways to improve operations.

During the trials for the large ‘Jumbo’ trains out of the Peak district, Jake worked at weekends when it was quiet to ensure it wouldn’t disturb normal operations. He made sure everyone was kept up to speed with how things were going and fully briefed his staff.

Freightliner is also developing a new flow from Hillhead quarry and, once again, Jake has spent a lot of his time there making sure it will run smoothly from day one.

MERSEYRAIL LIVERPOOL HALF MARATHON TEAM MERSEYRAIL

PETER STOJANOVIC

In a conversation with another driver at Birkenhead Central, Craig Murphy, a leader driver at Merseyrail’s Birkenhead, suggested they run the Liverpool Half Marathon in March 2023. That idea snowballed, and more people became involved, raising money for Parkinsons UK. The day was emotional from start to finish, and the team raised just under £9,000 for charity.

FREIGHTLINER Pete was promoted to team leader at the freight hub based around Ferrybridge, supporting the operations support manager at Transpennine. He was required to take over when the OSM had to step down from the role due to ill health. This made Pete responsible for managing the team of groundstaff. With the support of his colleagues, Pete rose to the challenge, familiarising himself with Freightliner’s competence management system, EDS, and all the procedures for rostering and HR support.

RALPH WILSON FREIGHTLINER When Keenan Flowers, a Freightliner static shunter based in Crewe, fell unwell and collapsed at work, Freightliner Operations Support Manager, Ralph Wilson called 999 and started to perform CPR. As Keenan’s condition deteriorated, Ralph expertly used a defibrillator and placed Keenan in the recovery position. He stayed with Keenan until the ambulance arrived and he was taken to hospital. He was suffering from a severe infection but Ralph’s quick thinking and calm response got him on the road to recovery.

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#RMRSA23

SUSTAINABILITY & NET ZERO PERSON OR TEAM AWARD Broadhead Global sponsors the Sustainability & Net Zero Person or Team award which celebrates those who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to sustainability, climate action, and achieving netzero. In an era where environmental concerns are paramount, this award honours those who have taken extraordinary steps to reshape practices, policies, and perspectives, forging a path towards a greener future.

ABDUL REHMAN SAVANT

BOB BROWNING

ASAVRAIL

QUATTRO GROUP

Abdul is very deserving of recognition for his hard work as both Discipline Lead and Designer/ CRE. Recently, through his work as a director of ASAVRAIL, Abdul has managed to have a significant impact on the rail industry in a very short space of time. By designing and delivering courses effectively and patiently, Abdul is actively contributing to the sector, bringing much needed talent and expertise from other areas, like oil and gas, and data centres, to the rail industry.

Bob Browning’s passion and strategy is rooted in a simple logic, not just to halve emissions, but to eliminate them, and this has already started at Quattro. He has spent years collecting knowledge and collaborating with climate experts, scientists, engineers, and researchers to lead Quattro to the greenest possible working solutions. As an advocate for cleaner energy, he set upon finding new and innovate ways to ensure Quattro is at the forefront of sustainability. He is an extraordinary and resourceful leader with an unwavering commitment to sustainability.

CLESHAR CONTRACT SERVICES LTD AND NETWORK RAIL

GREEN TRAVEL PLEDGE

CLESHAR CONTRACT SERVICES LIMITED / NETWORK RAIL

RAIL DELIVERY GROUP

This team delivered the new Stoke Maintenance Delivery Unit (MDU) and warehouse for Network Rail maintenance staff. The team demonstrated commitment to driving positive change and doing things differently, including a significant focus on sustainability. As a result, the MDU building was constructed out of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) that have an EPC rating of A and the warehouse has a B rating, making it the best rated MDU in Network Rail. The team has delivered a high-performing sustainable building using local suppliers and SMEs.

The Green Travel Pledge is a rail industry initiative to provide detailed, accurate, and reliable carbon emissions data at the point of sale, to help businesses demonstrate the environmental benefits of switching to rail for business travel.

The company wants to empower businesses and business travellers to choose rail as a green option over more polluting methods. Its team has worked tirelessly to create an industry benchmark for carbon measurement of business journeys by rail.

JASON BROOKER

LEWIS MCKAY

GTR

AMULET

In his role as Head of Environment at GTR, Jason is responsible for delivering on the company’s environmental commitments. Over the last couple of years, he has built a dedicated and diverse team to help achieve the company’s business goals, supporting them in their own achievements. He promotes strategic, big-picture thinking and encourages the team to participate in industry-level initiatives.

He has fostered an honest and collaborative environment for the team to thrive within.

Lewis has passionately driven the implementation of Amulet’s online digital platform ‘Mo:dus’. The aim of the platform was to ease the process of reporting information, reviewing data and being completely transparent to Avanti. However, when he noticed the impact the platform had on the reduction of paper, it became obvious that this was a great sustainability initiative.

Lewis further enhanced the platform to include additional information, such as BTP huddles, training records, assignment instructions and risk assessments, bringing positive impacts on Amulet’s environment and sustainability efforts.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

SUSTAINABILITY & NET ZERO PERSON OR TEAM AWARD cont.

LUMO TRAINS LUMO

NETWORK RAIL & SICUT ENTERPRISES SICUT ENTERPRISES Network Rail has a clear strategic target of Net-Zero carbon emissions by 2050 and to deliver a more sustainable railway infrastructure through the replacement of softwood and hardwood sleepers. Approving Sicut Enterprises Ltd, the UK manufacturer of recycled plastic composite sleepers, has provided Network Rail the opportunity to reduce its carbon footprint and dependency on wood, while installing a better value and longer-life asset. With Sicut’s help, it is estimated Network Rail has saved over 2.5 million kilograms of plastic waste from landfill, oceans, and incineration.

REBECCA STYLES

Lumo is a new start Train Operating Company which is driven to be a Net-Zero Champion.

It has made a great start, thanks to 100% electric trains, 50% plant-based menus, paperless cups, and paperless ticketing. The company’s staff have continued this push with no paper in the offices, no photocopiers, or printers. All Lumo staff have bought into the policy and are continuing to promote the company’s values around sustainability.

REBECCA MEECHAN NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND Rebecca is the perfect example of someone using their role to help address the climate crisis in an effective way. As a digital and comms expert, Rebecca has been unwavering in her support of the Sustainability Team at Network Rail Scotland, going above and beyond to help the team get their messages out to the organisation, and helping them land in the most impactful way. Rebecca’s passion, energy, and enthusiasm are infectious. She adds so much value to the team.

NORTHERN Since becoming Regional Community and Sustainability Manager, Becky has worked hard to forge positive relations with a range of stakeholders, as well as stepping up and taking on additional responsibilities as Stakeholder Manager. She is highly respected by colleagues, both inside and outside the rail industry, and will always try her best.

She regularly goes the extra mile, including carrying out conductor duties or assisting with out-of-hours-events. She is always enthusiastic and positive about the role and is an ambassador for both Northern and for women working in rail.

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SCOTLAND’S RAILWAY SUSTAINABILITY TEAM NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND Scotland’s Railway is very lucky to have such a professional, passionate, and determined Environment and Sustainability Team. The team have led on multiple fronts to help colleagues in every department and make incremental steps towards local, governmental, and global environmental, carbon and energy targets. By introducing new practices and educating colleagues on the ways they can reduce energy use, the team are doing all the right things to steer Scotland’s railway towards its Net-Zero targets.

#RMRSA23 SHREWSBURY DELIVERY UNIT WALES AND BORDERS NETWORK RAIL The Shrewsbury Delivery Unit (DU) are extremely proud to have achieved their Net-Zero carbon emissions successes for the year. The maintenance team of 367 colleagues have already reduced the amount of road vehicle travel by 20,000 miles and are currently on target to achieve an overall reduction of over 50,000 miles per year. The DU’s sustainability programme, responsibly managing over 1,000 miles of lineside vegetation, has revolutionised ways of working. By working closely with tree officers within World Heritage Sites and Natural Resources England and Wales, the team have been able to revitalise habitats and wildlife.

SUSTAINABILITY TEAM SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY SWR is passionate about sustainability, as is evident by the company’s goal of hitting net-zero.

The company has been at the forefront of the industry, achieving over 75% recycling and maintaining certified environmental management systems since 2018. The team have also partnered with meaningful causes in communities, including free shops and food banks, and have also opened up stations for those who need them. The team goes above and beyond to maintain sustainability at SWR.

SUSTAINABILITY TEAM SOUTHEASTERN Southeastern is committed to sustainability and has a small but perfectly formed sustainability team dedicated to that end. A team that steers Southeastern towards a better and greener future, influencing behaviour both in and out of the workplace. The team is soon to publish Southeastern’s decarbonisation roadmap, with calculations for the company’s ambitious decarbonisation targets of a 90% reduction in its scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2034/35, and net-zero across scopes 1-3 by 2050.

The team hopes to make a positive difference across the industry.

TOBY OWEN AECOM With over 25 years of experience as a civil engineer, Toby is passionate about putting sustainability and environmental impact at the forefront of design, including them within hazard reviews to ensure opportunities are highlighted. Additionally, he is a great support to everyone in his team, always making time for more junior colleagues and making sure everyone is heard and feels supported. Toby has a passion for engineering and supporting others to meet their potential.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD Readypower Group sponsors this year’s Customer Service Award which honours those individuals who display incredible customer services skills in difficult circumstances and demonstrate a cool head to deliver the best outcome.

AGGIE SHIHAM

ALISON MEARNS

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

MERSEYRAIL

Aggie is one in a million. She goes out of the way to help every single person she deals with.

Not only that, she cares deeply about Datchet station, the local area, and all the people that use SWR’s service. She provides exceptional customer service and is always available to offer advice and guidance to colleagues. She is very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Aggie is a fantastic representative of SWR’s values.

ANGELA MILTON

CHARLES DICKSON

GREATER ANGLIA

SOUTHERN

Every day, Angela goes above and beyond expectations to help customers with train and ticketing queries. She provides exceptional service to every customer who walks through the door at Shelford Ticket Office and has a forensic knowledge of the railway network.

Her patience when dealing with complex ticket requests, often during peak travel times, and sometimes with difficult customers, is hugely impressive.

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Every day, Alison greets customers with a smile. She is helpful and personable, making time to chat with customers wherever possible, and is always fully engaged with what is happening in and around the station.

She cares for others and ensures everyone is well looked after. Passengers always feel comfortable with Alison, and she has a fantastic rapport with them. She is a great asset to the Merseyrail family.

Charles excels at customer service. He always deals with customers politely, meeting the standards Southern has established to ensure its customers are valued. Always smiling and willing to help, Charles’ demeanour is enough for customers to want to enquire about something if they are not sure. He frequently provides useful information and recommendations to customers who are always delighted with their interactions with him. He oozes helpfulness and continues to give himself to customers who are in need.

DAVE STANDIDGE

GENTIAN KALA

NETWORK RAIL

LAND SHERIFFS

Despite managing a busy work bank as a Project Engineer, Dave has gone to great lengths to help keep passengers moving during recent industrial action.

He trained himself as an Electrical Control Room Operator (ECRO) so that he could help manage the complex electrification monitoring system at Thames Valley Control Centre in Wales and the Western region. He also acted as a nighttime ECRO, playing his part in running an efficient shift pattern.

Gentian is one of a kind. He is one of the longest standing Land Sheriffs working with Greater Anglia and goes above and beyond to support staff and customers alike. When faced with anti-social behaviour, Gentian’s friendly, professional nature helps him to diffuse situations before they can escalate. Staff feel reassured in his presence, knowing that if anything goes wrong, he is always best equipped to deal with it.

#RMRSA23 JOHN CLIFF NORTHERN John always brings a smile to his colleagues’ faces as well as those of the customers. He has a fantastic personality which shines through as he tries to help customers with their queries. Though some customers may come into the booking office a little frustrated and angry, John always ensures they leave satisfied with his efforts and with a smile on their faces. Although he is a member of booking office staff, he has trained on the gateline to support his team members.

JONATHAN LOUIS SOUTHERN Jonathan is an exceptional OBS, who carries out his duties passionately. He possesses great interpersonal skills which he uses daily while on shift. He is patient, has a positive attitude, and is always smiling. His announcements are entertaining and informative, brightening up even the dreariest journey. Jonathan has also shown great compassion and professionalism when dealing with passengers who are going through difficult times. He deserves recognition for his outstanding dedication and exceptional service.

JOSIE LOOI SCOTRAIL Josie is an amazing, talented member of the ScotRail team. She is fantastic with customers and their queries and makes the Scotrail information desk a fun place to work for her colleagues.

The UK's Specialist The UK's Specialist Rail and Infrastructure Rail and Infrastructure Services Provider Services Provider

KAYLEIGH HOLT SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY Kayleigh is a warm, welcoming person who always has a smile on her face. She always strives to offer the best possible experience for customers, and helps her colleagues provide the best customer service they can.

Through her inclusion, dedication, personality, and work ethic, Kalyleigh has been a rock and a cheerleader for her team. She is an all-round inspiration to her co-workers.

Readypower is proud to sponsor Readypower proud to sponsor the CustomerisService Award the Customer Service Award at this year's RailStaff Awards at this year's RailStaff Awards For general enquiries, contact: For general enquiries, contact: info@readypower.co.uk info@readypower.co.uk 0118 9774 901 0118 9774 901

www.readypower.co.uk www.readypower.co.uk

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD cont.

NICOLA HARLOW CROSSCOUNTRY

SHEREE WHETREN SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY Sheree has a genuine passion for delivering excellent customer service to everyone she encounters. Through her work as a volunteer community ambassador, she has spent countless hours of her own time working with community groups on ‘Try the Train’ trips, giving talks on rail safety, and forging close relationships far and wide across the network. Her kindness and empathy make her a pleasure to work with. She is dedicated and driven where helping others is concerned. SWR would be a duller place without her.

SUSAN TEMPLE

Nicola, a senior conductor based in Cambridge, is a real asset to her depot, company, and the industry.

She is a wonderful colleague who is always cheerful and helpful to everyone around her. Her positive outlook and bubbly personality always help to lighten the mood whenever she’s around. Nicola is always among the top ticket sellers, makes fantastic announcements, and is always thoroughly smart and professional. She also helps others as Cambridge’s mental health representative.

SIRAZ ISLAM TRENITALIA C2C LTD Siraz is a professional, highly motivated, and hardworking Customer Service Assistant. He is a multiskilled staff member whose exceptional customer service skills constantly amaze his colleagues. He is helpful, friendly, reliable, sensitive, and honest. Siraz has previously been nominated as c2c Star of the Month because of his extraordinary work and his genuine passion for delivering outstanding customer service.

SCOTRAIL Susan is a very caring, friendly, helpful member of staff. She is patient with customers no matter what the situation, including with difficult or disrespectful customers. She helps everyone with their choice of travel routes and fares, and is also supportive of colleagues, offering the same support to all, no matter the circumstances. She is renowned for her charitable work, and nothing is too much for her.

WAHSIM SAFIEDEEN MTR ELIZABETH LINE Wahsim Safiedeen is a Duty Customer Experience Manager for Canary Wharf on the MTR Elizabeth Line. Since the opening of the service, he has always led his shift admirably, showing the team what they can achieve. During several serious incidents in August 2023, Wahsim took his first aid and empathy skills to a different level, helping safeguard and comfort a number of customers in distress. The staff and managers of the local team nominated him as ‘star of the month’, which he won. He deserves great recognition.

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#RMRSA23

RECRUITMENT & TALENT ACQUISITION PERSON OR TEAM Trenitalia c2c Ltd joins us in celebrating the teams and individuals who work tirelessly to support their client or candidate’s needs. The people who take on all the problems which come with organising labour in their stride, marrying the right candidate with the perfect role.

ANDY PAGE

ARM RAIL TEAM

CROSSCOUNTRY

ADVANCED RESOURCE MANAGERS

Over the last few years, CrossCountry’s driver recruitment campaigns have increased dramatically. In an area that receives thousands of applicants, Andy is responsible for the successful recruitment campaigns and ultimate placements of the next generation of drivers. In addition to this massive undertaking, Andy is also responsible for the successful appointment of all management colleagues. He does a fantastic job of ensuring that the right candidate sees a bright future with CrossCountry.

The Rail team at ARM possesses an exceptional level of industry knowledge and expertise. They stay updated with the latest developments in the rail sector, ensuring they have a deep understanding of industry trends and requirements. This allows them to identify and attract the most qualified candidates for various roles within the rail market. They are dedicated to providing an exceptional candidate experience throughout the recruitment process, going above and beyond to ensure candidates are well-informed, supported, and prepared.

BLUE-COLLAR SAFETY CRITICAL TEAM

CENTRAL RESOURCING TEAM

DEPLOY RECRUITMENT GROUP

SIEMENS MOBILITY LTD

The Deploy Safety Critical Team consistently demonstrate their dedication to the supply of competent staff by going above and beyond in and out of working hours and providing critical supplies and equipment for their employees to complete their work. Their professionalism and hard work have not gone unnoticed, as they receive regular praise through feedback from our clients. They are committed to upskilling and providing opportunities to the next generation of consultants to further enhance and support our service offering to clients and candidates.

The Siemens Central Resourcing Team works relentlessly behind the scenes to ensure major signalling commissions are fully resourced. They often secure more than 200 critical staff internally and via the supply chain, validating right to work, competencies, and arranging logistics such as travel and accommodation. They provide an outstanding service and exceptional performance, often under great pressure.

COYLE RAIL BLUE COLLAR NORTH TEAM

ERIN GRAY

COYLE PERSONNEL

NETWORK RAIL

The York Coyle office regularly goes above and beyond in looking after the team that works for them. Monitoring health and safety is the highest priority, but also personal wellbeing and welfare - a happy team is a safe and productive team. They work long hours to provide personnel with regular, quality work, and are available at all hours with answers to any questions or issues that may arise. The work they put in is second to none and should be a benchmark for how the industry is run.

Erin possesses an unparalleled depth of knowledge when it comes to the multitude of contract types, tailor-made requirements for unique roles, and the intricate web of terms and conditions. Her ability to navigate this complex landscape is truly remarkable. However, what truly distinguishes Erin is her extraordinary interpersonal skills, which have enabled her to swiftly forge meaningful relationships with her customers.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

RECRUITMENT & TALENT

ACQUISITION PERSON OR TEAM cont.

HELEN DAWSON NETWORK RAIL

JAIMIE BUTEL-FOLEY COYLE PERSONNEL Resource Manager Jaimie has already received an impressive nine nominations for this distinguished accolade. Jaimie’s unwavering commitment is evident in her relentless drive to empower her staff to reach new heights. She’s not confined to the office walls; even on her days off and public holidays, Jaimie remains accessible, ready to assist her workers without hesitation.

Helen has an incredible passion for helping people advance and develop. This year she’s created a partnership between Network Rail, Shipley College, and Northern Railways and developed the ‘Get Into Rail Programme’. This joint initiative is aimed at supporting unemployed people to enhance their employability skills. The programme brings people who are new to the railway into the role and invests in their training, development and more importantly their feeling of self-worth.

JOSH HILL ADVANCE TRS

MCGINLEY SUPPORT SERVICES APPRENTICESHIP TEAM

Josh joined Advance TRS as a recruitment consultant in January 2016. Now a Principal Consultant, he leads the Civils and Permanent Way team, drawing on years of practical experience managing countrywide recruitment for large scale rail projects. Josh listens to the requirements of the business and takes time to build relationships with clients, ensuring that the personnel he forwards have the correct skill set and are a good fit for the company.

MCGINLEY SUPPORT SERVICES The McGinley Apprenticeship Team is a shining example of a Recruitment & Talent Acquisition team that goes above and beyond to support its clients, staff, and the industry. Their impact extends far beyond their immediate responsibilities to nurturing and developing the next generation of rail professionals and contributing to the sustainability and growth of the entire industry.

MICHAEL ‘MICK’ SCHRUYERS ADVANCE TRS Mick is the consummate professional within the rail recruitment industry, helpful, knowledgeable, quick to react, and always has time his clients. He understands the needs of clients and contractors, where other recruiters fail to deliver. Mick and his team always provide a quality personal service which is second to none.

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#RMRSA23 PHIL GITTINS COYLE PERSONNEL Phil has worked for many years in rail and has a vast knowledge of the industry. He is a consummate professional with excellent attention to detail, great communication skills, and a detailed knowledge of the tasks ahead. His ability to create a positive candidate experience truly stands out. He’s helped build a strong and diverse workforce, making a significant contribution to Coyle Personnel’s success.

Phil provides a first-class service to rail clients and is true ambassador to the industry.

RACHEL MCDERMOTT COYLE PERSONNEL As a Resource Support Assistant, Rachel is known for her exceptional customer service skills. She’s quick to respond to worker’s questions and concerns, ensuring that all needs are met. Rachel’s dedication to her role and the people she serves makes her an asset to the Coyle Personnel team.

TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED RECRUITMENT TEAM

Nothing beats £2 train tickets*

TRANSPORT FOR WALES This team has recently worked their way through a huge transformation, with big numbers to fill. Their hard work, dedication, and determination across the network of Wales and Wales Cross Borders has been phenomenal. They remain professional at all times, always willing to think outside the box, and are always open for suggestions and feedback. They certainly roll their sleeves up to get recruitment right. They are a huge credit to the TfW family.

OK, maybe this feeling

VICTOR GOWRAVA KONUX GMBH Victor has gone above and beyond to become an industry business partner. He has left his mark on the recruitment world by constantly looking for solutions to attract the best of the best from the railway industry. He never backs down from challenges and he always tries to be innovative in his approach to sourcing and attracting candidates.

London’s rinks in a blink? Whether it’s Somerset House or The Queen’s House in Greenwich, find the cheapest train tickets at c2c-online.co.uk *Terms apply. Up to 4 kids travel for £2 each with a fare-paying adult. Visit c2c-online.co.uk for more details.

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SAMARITANS LIFESAVER Samaritans proudly sponsors this award which recognises real-life heroes. Each one has stepped out of their comfort zone to make a potentially life-saving intervention.

AMIR AZIZ

BRYAN LUNT

GTR

CROSSCOUNTRY

While working a night shift at the station, Amir was confronted by someone shouting and wanting to end his own life. Though the man became offensive, Amir did everything he could to calm him down. Amir was able to call the signaller to put a caution on the line so that approaching trains were aware of what was happening and managed to get assistance to do an emergency stop on a train approaching. He also remained focused on keeping the man talking until the BTP arrived to take over.

CARL ENGDAHL

CARL JARVIS

AVANTI WEST COAST

SOUTHEASTERN

During the process of a set swap, and amid atrocious and very rainy weather, Carl observed a person who was not heeding the warning to stand behind the yellow line. After the request was made three times, and realising the danger the person was in, Carl made his way to the man through the crowded platform and pulled him to a position of safety just in time. The man had been balancing on the edge of the very wet platform throughout. Carl’s quick responses prevented a fatal accident.

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While waiting for his train, Bryan noticed an individual standing at the very end of the platform where passengers are not permitted to go. It was clear that they were distressed, vulnerable, and wanted to take their own life.

Bryan approached the person with care, talking to them very calmly and tried to offer reassurance. Two off-duty police officers soon arrived at the scene and took over the situation. Bryan’s intervention prevented a young, vulnerable person from taking their own life.

Carl volunteers his own time to help others by leading the Southeastern Railway mental health advocacy program and uses his skills on the frontline to help passengers in need. He recently spent over an hour at the end of a station platform winning the trust and confidence of a gentleman who had attended the station with the purpose of taking his life. He was able to bring the man to a place of safety and handed him to the emergency services for clinical care and support.

CARL MIELESZKO

FAZAKERLEY STATION TEAM STATION RETAILERS

CROSSCOUNTRY

MERSEYRAIL

On the final leg of a journey, Carl’s train was stopped due to a trespasser on the line. Carl decided to get down on the track to try to engage with the gentleman who was experiencing mental anguish and was acting angrily and aggressively. Despite this, Carl continued to engage him in conversation, trying to calm him down, and above all else trying to keep him safe. He patiently stayed and listened until the Police arrived to help the man.

The team at Fazakerley Station deal with numerous welfare incidents every year. Due to the station’s proximity to the hospital, people often arrive at the station in distress. However, Paul, Tony, and Yvonne deal with crisis situations in their stride. Over the last 12 months, they have dealt with 10 concerns for welfare and two trespass incidents. The team have a genuine drive to ensure all passengers are safe and to prevent any serious incidents.

#RMRSA23 GARRY LETTS SOUTHERN One evening, all trains in the surrounding area were brought to a stand-still as reports came in of a member of the public walking between the running rails using their mobile phone. Whilst waiting on a red aspect and communicating with his passengers, Garry spotted the person on the rails. Instantly informing the signaller and securing the train, Garry approached the man and was able to encourage him to move to a place of safety. Garry stayed with him while the emergency services arrived and ensured he was safe.

GEORGE MITCHELL AND HARRY JORDAN AMULET - NORTHERN Following a routine patrol at their station, TSOs George Mitchell and Harry Jordan encountered a vulnerable lady at the edge of the platform. George introduced himself to the woman, slowly beginning to fact-find and gauge how she had found herself in such a position. While George continued to strike up a relationship with the woman, Harry spoke with other passengers to calm them, and the emergency services were called.

They soon arrived and transported the woman to the local hospital.

GRACE-ANNE STEPHENSON ARRIVA RAIL LONDON Upon finding a heavily pregnant and suicidal lady on a platform, Grace acted quickly to calm her down and escorted her to a more private part of the station. After consultation with BTP, the woman was allowed to travel home.

However, as she hadn’t eaten for 24 hours, Grace took the woman to a restaurant to carry on their conversation. The two have stayed in touch and the woman has given birth to a healthy baby. Grace and her team gifted the young mother with all the essentials a new parent would need.

GREIG GIBSON SCOTRAIL While driving his train, Greig saw an unusual shape as he was passing over a viaduct and thought it could be a person. He placed the train into Emergency and made a Rail Emergency Call (REC) to the signaller at WSCC Cathcart Workstation. Greig discovered a young woman sitting with her legs dangling over the wall. He engaged her in conversation and quickly realised that she was very vulnerable, bleeding, and intoxicated. Greig managed to convince the woman to get on the train and go to the station.

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SAMARITANS LIFESAVER cont.

MEGAN MOORE SCOTRAIL

MICHAELA JOSEPH AMULET - TRENITALIA C2C LTD A c2c colleague was concerned for one of their co-worker’s welfare after he failed to return to work after his holiday. Operations Manager Michaela and two of her officers went to the colleague’s property where they found the door closed and locked. The team broke down the front door and found their colleague collapsed on his bathroom floor. The ambulance crew confirmed that he had been there for several days and if it had been a few hours longer, it would have been fatal.

Megan saw a message on her company’s social media platform from an unknown member of the public, apologising to a train driver on one of the services and noting that it was ‘not personal’. Megan engaged with the man who explained he intended to commit suicide. She immediately raised the alarm and put a caution on the line. Megan asked station colleagues to conduct a welfare check of the station. The man was found on the tracks, the approaching train was brought to a stop, and the man was taken to safety.

MOHAMMED HUSSAIN AMULET - TRENITALIA C2C LTD

NICOLE CASSIDY

While patrolling a platform, Mohammed Hussain saw a woman quite close to the edge, so he asked her to step back. After a few minutes, as a train was arriving, the woman jumped down onto the tracks. Mo ran towards the train using emergency hand signals to alert the driver. Thankfully, the train stopped approximately 10 feet away from the woman. The emergency services were called and the woman was taken to the hospital. If it wasn’t for Mo’s quick thinking, the outcome could have been so different.

SCOTRAIL Nicole noticed a young woman sitting on the platform’s edge. She approached the woman and convinced her to move away to a safer place. The woman was in crisis and repeatedly threatened to harm herself. When a train approached the station, the young woman jumped onto the tracks and had started running towards the train. Nicole quickly reacted by heading down the platform and raising both arms to indicate to the driver to apply the brakes. Thankfully, the woman did not come to harm.

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SAMANTHA ROOKE TRANSPORT FOR WALES After working her shift at the station, Sam unfortunately had to deal with the aftermath of an incident where a distressed passenger had committed suicide.

She helped the customers on the platform who had witnessed the incident and assisted the on-call staff who arrived later to provide onward travel. Shortly afterwards, Sam identified a similar situation where a young lady was in crisis outside the station. Sam approached the woman and remained with her, providing support and compassion until the emergency services arrived.

#RMRSA23

RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR All of tonight’s outstanding managers display exceptional leadership and go above and beyond for their team. Award sponsor TSO understands the importance of great management and is proud to back the Rail Manager of the Year category.

ALEX REED

ANGELA TOASE

HEATHROW RAIL

SOUTHERN

Since Alex became duty engineering manager for A-Shift at Heathrow Airport, he has overseen a massive uplift in morale and productivity. He has driven each member of the shift to become more competent in their roles and feel they are playing an important part in the running of both of the station’s light rail systems. He has introduced team briefings to keep staff updated on any information they might need, as well as weekly ‘lookaheads’ so everyone has sight of what they need to achieve or works to be completed.

Since joining Redhill station, Angela has overseen a vast improvement. Increasing integration and boosting driver morale, Angela has made a huge impact on the depot through her management skills.

Today, the drivers at Redhill feel their manager is always there for them. Well done Angela!

ANNELIESE REID

BERNADETTE MIAMO

SOUTHEASTERN

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

Anneliese is a manager who will go above and beyond in her support of her team. She takes a lot of pride in her staff and always wants to do the best for them and ensure the team is supported in its functions. Anneliese’s customer service skills are exemplary. She is one of the friendliest people you could ever want to meet and always presents herself with a smile on her face and a happy greeting for her team.

Bernadette is a hardworking and reliable team player. Whatever the challenge, the work she does is carried out to a high standard, with care towards her team and customers. She is a key part of the SWR stations team.

Under Bernadette’s leadership, Staines station has won the Best Medium Station award. She is also the manager for Windsor & Eton station where she oversaw the station’s role in Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and took the lead for the station during the coronation of King Charles.

GUY REED

JAMES DOBSON

CROSSCOUNTRY

AVANTI WEST COAST

Guy moved across the country to stand in at Bournemouth depot during a time of great disruption for the team, and he has embraced the challenge with a smile and with huge positivity. Guy has worked hard to aid all staff and to let them know he is there for them. He often proclaims “my time belongs to you and the rest of the team”. He is passionate, driven, and compassionate, motivating the team to reach their highest potential and achieve their goals.

James came from a frontline position to help manage the Control Team on secondment, but within six months, he was thrown into the deep end, becoming the Control Manager. Amid an uncertain time for the team, James quickly improved morale and gained the respect and trust of more experienced colleagues. His dedication, organisational skills, and willingness to listen helped turn a chaotic environment into a more positive place to work. James has grown into a well-respected leader and is highly thought of across the business.

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RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR cont.

JANE MURRAY NORTHERN

MARIANNA BUSUTTIL SOUTHERN As a manager, Marianna always exhibits a remarkable ability to inspire and guide her team towards achieving exceptional results. Her dedication to setting clear goals, providing guidance, and empowering her team members and trainees is second to none. She is a mentor and confidant to many, and will always go above and beyond for her team members and colleagues. She is a true inspiration to all who work with her and is the definition of what a manager should be.

Jane is passionate about promoting diversity within rail and empowers her colleagues every single day. She also makes time for each individual staff member and is incredibly personable. She goes out of her way to provide guidance and support to colleagues and is always ready to provide a muchneeded ear during tricky times. Jane is an extremely committed mentee, and her contributions will really help to shape the industry and have a positive, lasting impact on its future.

MONICA DUTTA SOUTHERN

RACHEL BLACKMAN

Monica is renowned as a fantastic manager who always goes out of her way to help her Norwood drivers. She always comes to work with a smile on her face and does everything she can to aid and assist any staff members that approach her, even if she is not their designated manager. Monica possesses that rare ability to be both genuinely empathetic and engaging, whilst also being knowledgeable and effectively managing those under her charge. She is approachable, friendly, discreet, and trustworthy.

CROSSCOUNTRY Rachel began her journey with CrossCountry as a Retail Service Manager then changed roles to Revenue Support Specialist. During her time in this role, she became a coach and dedicated herself to helping others develop. In 2022, she became interim Revenue Support Manager and quickly settled into the role, which is now permanent. She manages a team of 23 people who are spread across the CrossCountry network, supporting them with her ‘can do’ attitude and bringing positivity to everything she does.

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RHIANNON PRICE BTTC Valued by her employees and clients alike, Rhiannon has been a key driver in developing and establishing her company’s ethos. She is passionate about ensuring that staff understand the company values and is a perfect role model for how these are embedded by driving excellence, supporting and developing others, and seeing every task through to completion. She also has the unique ability to notice when the team needs a boost and acts upon it instantly.

She is valued by the whole team.

#RMRSA23 SATTY POTIWAL SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY Satty is the much-loved manager of Southampton Central station. He has helped Southampton Central gain great standing in the local community by raising thousands of pounds for Southampton General Hospital through curry days and raffles. If there is an international day on the calendar, Satty will get behind this and deliver a themed project. He is also Vice Chair for the group MIND, group ambassador for Inclusion and Diversity, a mental health first aider, and champion for the Incidence Care Team.

Satty is an inspiration to so many people.

SIMON BOTT SOUTHERN Through exceptional leadership, dedication, and achievements across the Metro South Team, Simon has demonstrated unparalleled commitment as Area Operations Manager.

Simon’s visionary strategies have not only enhanced operational efficiency but have also resulted in remarkable improvements in productivity and sustainability. Simon’s exceptional leadership qualities have been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, resulting in increased morale, closer teamworking, and a shared commitment to achieving the highest standard of excellence.

A COMPANY ON A HUMAN SCALE

SIMONA DARABA GREATER ANGLIA Simona arrived on a secondment to become the West Area Customer Service Manager this year and has embraced the role wholeheartedly. She is inclusive, compassionate, caring, proactive, and listens to the concerns of her team. During her short time in the post, she has taken a number of steps that have made a real difference for her team, making them feel fully supported. Simona is always on hand to help and doesn’t shy away from getting stuck in with helping colleagues.

Proud Sponsors of the

STUART FIELD CROSSCOUNTRY Stuart is a hugely valuable and respected member of the team at Birmingham New Street. Always ready to offer support and guidance, he is an efficient, organised, and energetic driver manager. Stuart really came into his own during the pandemic, steering the ship through a difficult period. Post-pandemic, Birmingham New Street depot’s training requirements have been significant, but he has risen to the task.

RAIL MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD TSO develop, design and deliver rail systems renewals and railway enhancement projects across the UK, from London to the Scottish Border. Being a part of The Central Railway Systems Alliance provides us with the unique chance to be involved in some of the UK’s most exciting projects, with a variety of work that is a fantastic opportunity for career development.

www.tso.fr/en

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SAFETY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD Sponsored by specialist security agent Amulet Security, the Safety Person or Team Award recognises the teams and individuals who have improved the safety record of their business and who promote a safe working culture.

BRIDGET NOLAN AND JEREMY ROGERS

CHRIS HEMMINGS

SOUTHERN / GTR

NETWORK RAIL

Bridget Nolan and Jeremy Rogers are nominated for their Multi Establishment, Safety, Security and Guidance Event (Message). This idea was formed after a walk around London Bridge station. As Rail Enforcement Officers (REO) they understand the many different issues passengers face, and repeatedly deal with issues such as begging, homelessness, street drinking, vulnerable people, mental health, and county lines.

As programme manager, Chris has worked tirelessly to develop the Remote Disconnection Device, taking accountability for designing, developing, testing, and ultimately achieving product acceptance for a new piece of technology that will protect frontline teams from being struck by trains. This has been an 18-month journey that Chris has driven to conclusion. He has spent time speaking to people across Network Rail, explaining what the device will do and creating a huge demand for the product. Chris’s idea will be a game changer for safety.

EDDIE CARPENTER

GARY CHAMBERS

MERSEYRAIL

NETWORK RAIL

Traincrew Supervisor Eddie Carpenter opened the depot up at 04:00, joined by contract taxi driver Lawrence who had popped in to make an early morning brew. While doing so Lawrence noticed flames coming from the stairwell on the down platform. Eddie, Lawrence, and Train Manager Natalie McIntyre immediately headed down to investigate, by which time the fire had spread. The fire brigade was called, and the team doused the fire using fire extinguishers. When the fire brigade arrived to deal with the incident, they thanked the staff for their intervention which had avoided a large scale blaze.

GARY LOBUE

KIMONE LYLE ENGLISH

GANYMEDE SOLUTIONS

SOUTHEASTERN

Gary has worked in the rail industry for over 40 years. As Head of HSEQ for Ganymede he leads its culture of ‘Safety First, Safety Always’ and really does put this at the heart of everything he does. He leads by example and engages with people across the company to improve its safety performance and the behavioural safety of its workforce. He constantly strives to encourage collaboration at all levels of the business, working tirelessly to keep everyone safe both on and off site.

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Gary has worked tirelessly over the past year to improve the safety of Network Rail’s front-line teams on the North East Route. His innovation and drive have helped introduce new tools, equipment, and processes that prioritise the safety of his colleagues. He has worked closely with front-line staff to trial new equipment, listening and learning to see what works best for them and implementing the changes they want to see. Gary also collaborates with Maintenance Engineers, Route Asset Engineers, and other Health, Safety, and Environment Advisors to reduce or eliminate occupational health risks.

Kimone has implemented effective safety protocols, provided education and training on child safety, and actively worked to prevent accidents and protect children from harm.

She has worked tirelessly to encourage members of staff to report safeguarding issues and makes sure to send a personal message to every incident thanking them and encouraging them to carry on reporting. In 2022, she helped saved a young girl who had tried to harm herself, and has organised ambassador training to teach about safety.

#RMRSA23 KRIS YORKE STADLER RAIL SERVICE UK Kris Yorke, is head of quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) at Stadler Rail Service UK. He has completely transformed the company’s approach to these disciplines, introducing systems and processes to heighten safety and security across the board. He is proactive, conscientious, and strives for excellence, consistently going above and beyond to get the job done. He is innovative in his approach and always on the lookout for new and improved ways of working.

LEWIS JOHNSON ALSTOM TRANSPORT UK & I Lewis Johnson is the model of safety and it’s hard to think of a more dedicated, customer focused, safety champion creating positive change from a supply chain perspective. In his current role as Head of EHS at Alstom Transport UK, he leads by example to create a top-class safety culture amongst our signalling delivery workforce. Lewis is instrumental in implementing new solutions, and he has done a fantastic job supporting and being the Alstom Ambassador for rolling out Geofencing.

MARTYN HOWELLS TRANSPORT FOR WALES Martyn is nominated for his work on a project to review and re-develop TfW’s Conductor Task Based Risk Assessment, Risk Based Training Needs Analysis, and Conductor Competence Standards (Project Roccet). Martyn bought a safety-conscious mind to the project and put his thoughts and processes across in a way that was easy to digest and created a clear line of evidence. The work that Martyn put into this project did not go unrecognised and he was invited to feature in an RSSB workshop promoting the work.

MATTHEW NOBLETT FREIGHTLINER Matthew is Freightliner’s Safety & Sustainability Programme Lead. He has recently rolled out its new system, Work Wallet, which has made a huge difference to how Freightliner logs, tracks, and trends its health & safety events and statistics. Matthew has been involved in this large project from the start and has made the transition for users as painless as possible. He has produced numerous training videos that users can watch to learn all about the system as well as running training courses. Following the successful launch of Work Wallet, he is now its systems administrator.

Keeping rail security on track Our dedicated rail teams have invaluable experience and knowledge of the rail sector and offer rail-specific solutions tailored for each client.

For further information contact: 0844 2252121 email: info@amulet.co.uk

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SAFETY PERSON OR TEAM AWARD cont.

PAUL ALLISON QUATTRO GROUP

PENTALVER SOUTHAMPTON TERMINAL TEAM PENTALVER Over the past 18 months, Pentalver’s terminal at Southampton Dock Gate 10 has been preparing for the launch of its Vehicle Booking System (VBS), under the leadership of general manager, Nick Smith. During this time, staff were relocated, the existing two-story office block removed and it’s now become part of a continuous in and out roadway. To achieve the new operational method, the team had to spin all 6,000 containers through 90 degrees, map their new positions, upload them into the brand-new Terminal Operating System, and teach the drivers how to use the new technology. All this was achieved without incident or accident.

SAMARITANS RAIL TEAM

Paul has worked at Quattro for 14 years leading its health and safety training for five.

Across this time, he has trained hundreds of people to enter the industry ready to act in times of emergency. He is passionate about what he does and goes over and above to demonstrate how important it is, both on and off-site. He is never ‘off-duty’.

Paul is a unique individual who leads by example. Many people across the industry name him as ‘a lifesaver’.

ROB WANDS DEPLOY LIMITED Rob has been at the forefront of safety within Deploy since 2015 and, in that time, has driven a superb safety culture built on trust and openness. He is using innovation and technology to provide a tangible difference to the people and stakeholders of Deploy. Rob never stands still and is always trying something new to protect others’ safety. Though in his 40s, he’s currently doing an apprenticeship to ensure he’s always bringing the most up-to-date practices and ideas to the safety arena.

SAMARITANS Samaritans Rail Team provide a multi-faceted approach to preventing suicides on the rail network.

In partnership with Network Rail, the BTP, and the wider rail sector, the team employs a multi-agency strategy to providing the rail industry and the wider community the support needed following a fatality on the network. The team’s award-winning ‘Small Talk Saves Lives’ campaign helps bystanders to potential rail suicides and makes them able to identify when someone needs help.

STATION OPERATIONS TEAM SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY The South Western Railway Station Operations Team are nominated for their exceptional contributions and unwavering dedication in managing crucial events, as well as their remarkable involvement in events, safety, and learning meetings. The team’s outstanding performance, meticulous planning, cross-TOC collaboration, and unwavering support demonstrates their exceptional commitment to the railway industry, SWR, and their colleagues. Their accomplishments and contributions to the industry are truly remarkable, and they serve as an inspiration to all within the field.

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#RMRSA23

HR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PERSON OR TEAM The rail industry works hard to welcome and represent all cultures, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and abilities. Sponsored by Freightliner, this award recognises those who help promote the importance of HR, diversity & inclusion.

AJAY GILL

DANIEL OMATSOLA-MORGAN

WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS

ATKINSRÉALIS

Though he is relatively new to the rail industry, Ajay has worked tirelessly to support the business and his team. He is not shy when dealing with difficult situations, whilst they can be uncomfortable, and he brings an air of confidence and knowledge. He is a true asset to the company. A great manager, employee, and colleague, and has a grounding to him that allows people to be the best they can be.

Daniel is a key member of the CRSA OLE team in Birmingham. He is a powerhouse for diversity and equality within the workplace and also a STEM champion. He has used his personal experiences and knowledge to further the understanding of all strands of diversity both within CRSA and the wider AtkinsRéalis business. He is an excellent mentor to more junior members of staff and is a role model to all. On top of that, he is always cheerful and ready with a smile and helpful words for others.

HEATHROW EXPRESS

HULL TRAINS HR TEAM

HEATHROW EXPRESS

HULL TRAINS

Heathrow Express is committed to its diverse and inclusive workplace culture. From its inclusive PR campaigns including Pride Ride, the London Pride Float, and Pride livery, Heathrow Express sets an example not just for the transportation industry but for all organisations striving to create a more equitable and inclusive world. Heathrow Express supports various employee resource groups, providing a platform for underrepresented voices to be heard and valued, making it a great place to work and be involved.

Hull Trains has the highest percentage of female drivers on the railway and that wouldn’t be possible without the dedication that Hull Trains’ HR team puts into attracting the right talent and demonstrating clear career progression opportunities that are available for everyone. Twenty-seven percent of Hull Trains drivers are female, with 100% of those promoted internally.

The team has long-standing relationships with local schools, and are developing the company’s outreach programme, with female train drivers and on-board teams speaking to young children to break down gender stereotypes.

IAN WATTS

KIRSTY DIAMOND

GTR

NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND

Ian goes out of his way to cultivate an open and safe space for all colleagues, whether that’s his team at London Victoria or those across the wider network. His behaviour shows others he can be trusted, and he is a natural-born leader. A passionate advocate for all things fair and right, he has taken on a lot of responsibility within the LGBTQ+ Network, sending out frequent internal posts and strategically planning the future of the Network.

Kirsty is a fantastic ambassador for promoting equality and diversity within the workplace. Her commitment and enthusiasm when it comes to breaking down barriers, representing Network Rail at LGBTQ+ pride events, and the work she has done in campaigning for period products across all Network Rail facilities, has been exemplary. Kirsty works to continually diversify her surroundings.

She maintains various networks on social media, including LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and uses her experience within HR and EDI to support employees and make a positive impact on the business.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

HR, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PERSON OR TEAM cont.

LEEANNE DUNKO SCOTRAIL

LILLY CONNORS NETWORK RAIL In addition to her main role as a Senior Advanced Timetable Analyst, Lilly is the Communications Lead for Archway, Network Rail’s LGBTQ+ employee network, and a Diversity and Inclusion Champion. Lilly has spearheaded the network’s ‘On the same track’ campaign from inception through to delivery and faced numerous challenges throughout the process. Lilly managed all this in an extremely professional and approachable way, while still being true to herself and with minimal impact on her other work commitments.

PAUL MCGUNNIGLE-WHITE

Leeanne is a superstar who flies the flag for EDI at ScotRail. She is a fantastic asset to team ScotRail, and regularly builds engagement with frontline staff by working with frontline managers, occupational health, and the wider HR teams to host employee roadshows. Leeanne has also been instrumental in supporting employee networks, including Inspire, Pride of ScotRail, Cultural Fusion, and ACE. Leeanne always attends all employee network meetings and is always on hand to support the networks where required.

LORRAINE MHONYERA NETWORK RAIL Lorraine Mhonyera is a beacon of innovation and inclusivity in the UK rail industry. A native of Zimbabwe, she embodies a rich blend of perseverance and ingenuity, making significant strides in an industry keen to diversify its leadership strata. Lorraine’s journey from Zimbabwe to a role in the UK rail industry is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence and inclusivity. Her leadership in the Ethnicity and Race in Rail group heralds a new era where diversity is not just welcomed but cherished for the depth and breadth of perspectives it brings.

TRENITALIA C2C LTD Paul exemplifies all the right behaviours for someone trying to drive inclusivity within the railway.

One of his key strengths is his humility in acknowledging where he doesn’t have knowledge on a subject, and he’s not beyond asking questions to learn more about it. Paul has formed very strong relationships with colleagues across c2c, and this has helped him deliver real change and raise challenging conversations that will ultimately take the organisation forward.

RACHEL FULLARD RAIL DELIVERY GROUP Rachel has made an exceptional contribution and demonstrated unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion within the railway industry. Through her tireless dedication and exemplary leadership, Rachel has played a pivotal role in championing EDI initiatives within the railway industry, both as the former Chair of the EDI Charter Working Group under RIA and Women in Rail, and as an active employee of the Rail Delivery Group. Her efforts have left a mark on the industry, promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of rail transportation.

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#RMRSA23 REBECCA LOMAX NETWORK RAIL Rebecca works tirelessly behind the scenes to advance diversity and inclusion at Network Rail and is making a notable difference. In addition to her day job as a project manager within operations, Rebecca has been working to make Network Rail’s Wales and Western region more diverse and inclusive. Rebecca saw that the D&I text used in job adverts didn’t connect with people so wrote a new text based on her personal experience of discrimination, which has been adopted by teams across the region.

SHARON HERSHMAN SOUTHEASTERN Sharon dedicates her time and effort to taking a leadership role in organising training sessions to enhance diversity and inclusion support for passengers. These include BSL courses to assist staff to better communicate with customers needing additional support. A kind and empathetic person, Sharon is also linked to other diversity and inclusivity initiatives such as Women in Rail, which highlights the many challenges women face in the rail industry and supports the improvement and progression of women within the sector.

STEFANI DUPREE TSO Over the last three years, Stefani has surpassed her goals of becoming a fellow in leadership management. Stefani champions a fair workplace for women. She is working to close the gender equality gap, is a motivating force throughout the business, and an inspiration to all her colleagues.

This year, Stefani has achieved so much, not only personally, but professionally too.

STEPHEN WILLIAMS ALSTOM Under Stephen’s leadership, Alstom has set out to meet important objectives around creating an inclusive culture. The team have introduced four employee networks: Voices of Women (VoW); Voices of Disability (VoD); Voices of Race (VoR); and Voices of LGBT (VoL). These networks listen to, learn from, and nurture ‘quiet voices’ about raising awareness, empowering, developing, supporting, and educating employees. The team has introduced new and challenging existing policies, introduced new ways of working, and identified and attained external EDI accreditations, among others.

PROGRESS AND DEVELOP WITH FREIGHTLINER Join a Winning Team! We are proud to foster a culture of equity, respect and opportunities for all!

Proud to sponsor the HR, Diversity & Inclusion category at the RailStaff Awards 2023

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STATION STAFF AWARD The Station Staff Award recognises hard working, respected, and well-loved station staff who improve the experience of both colleagues and customers. Transport Benevolent Fund CIO, which sponsors the category, is all about helping people in the public transport industry, improving members’ work-life balance, and reducing staff turnover for employers.

ANGELA MILTON

BLACKPOOL GATELINE OPERATORS

GREATER ANGLIA

NORTHERN

Angela has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the railway timetable and routes, which helps customers choose the best route for the best value. She is always calm and controlled in the face of adversity. Unfailingly helpful and cheerful, Angela is a huge asset to Shelford Village. Each customer leaves the station feeling that she has gone the extra mile for them.

BLAKE ROBINS

DOREEN SOUTHWORTH

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

NORTHERN

Joining Staines station seven years ago, Blake has overcome dyslexia to become the Station Supervisor.

Blake is a star who keeps communication flowing, using his excellent face-to-face communication skills with customers and colleagues alike. This open communication makes the lives of his team easier as passengers are always informed about the state of the service.

He keeps his station clean and is always happy to assist passengers however he can. His teamwork makes the workplace a positive environment, and the station would not be the same without him.

The unsung hero of Blackburn, nothing is too much trouble for Doreen when it comes to both her customers and colleagues. English is not the first language for many of the customers at Blackburn station, yet Doreen always finds a way to get customers where they want to be, with the ticket they want, at the price they want to pay. She always does this with a smile. Doreen is there for colleagues too, providing selfless support which is greatly appreciated. She always puts others first.

JACK IDDON

JANICE POVAH

AVANTI WEST COAST

SCOTRAIL

Since joining the Avanti Team on the gateline at Crewe, Jack has been a positive and enthusiastic team member. Over the last year, Jack has worked very hard to gain his safety critical dispatch competence and joined the Crewe platform team as a dispatcher. He has also recently been successful in securing a place in the talent bank to become a Train Manager. Customers and staff alike naturally gravitate towards Jack, and he raises everyone’s game.

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The Blackpool gateline team are very well respected by all colleagues at Blackpool North station. Known for their outstanding communication skills, passion for customer service, and resolute determination, no one does it better than the Blackpool gateline. Given the station’s huge volume of customers, particularly during the summer months, the team prepares like no other. They face a broad range of challenges but handle each one with great positivity and mental strength. They are an inspiration.

Janice is a friendly and helpful member of the team. She always greets customers with a pleasant and positive attitude and goes out of her way to keep passengers abreast of any issues that might affect their journeys.

#RMRSA23 JULIAN SMITH WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS Julian is an announcer at Wolverhampton, but he is much more than that. He is multifunctional and provides great support to the whole team at Wolverhampton, including management. His efforts supporting the business, from the installation of new systems to banking, crowd management, passenger assistance, and managing the day-to-day rosters, mean he is nothing less than a hero. His proactive, ‘can-do’ attitude and dedication to the team truly shines through.

KATERINA MAKOLOVA SOUTHERN Kat goes above and beyond for all of her team. Her staff know they can go to her to talk about anything in confidence, aware of the fact that she will provide them with a safe space. A great manager and person, Kat is always there for her team, providing support when it is needed most.

KIERAN HARDY WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS Kieran is an exceptional member of the Worcester Foregate Street team. His unwavering dedication, outstanding customer service, and remarkable problem-solving skills have undoubtedly elevated the standards of railway station service. His dedication ensures the seamless operation of the station.

His commitment to keeping the trains moving is evident through his tireless efforts and ability to handle challenges with a calm and composed demeanour. Whether faced with scheduling disruptions, technical issues, or unexpected incidents, his resourcefulness and quick thinking help him find solutions that minimise disruptions and maintain a high level of service.

KIMOYA JEMISON SOUTHEASTERN Kimoya is a supporting team leader to London Bridge gateline staff. Kim always works extremely hard in her role. She tries her best to accommodate everyone in the team and is always willing to help team members who have difficult personal circumstances, going the extra mile to support her colleagues and staff. Kim is always at work, particularly for the early shifts which can be very tough going, but she is continually there doing her best.

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STATION STAFF AWARD cont.

MARK HORNIGOLD GREATER ANGLIA

SAMET APTULA GREATER ANGLIA Samet goes above and beyond time and time again to not only support his colleagues but also to provide fantastic customer service to customers. Nothing is ever too much for Samet. If the lifts are out of order, he is at the bottom of the stairs helping a customer over the footbridge with their luggage. Severe disruption sees him out supporting his colleagues and arranging taxis and bus replacements. Samet is a true asset to Cambridge station.

Nobody knows the ins and outs of Cambridge ticket office like Mark. His wealth of knowledge and expertise is an inspiration to his entire team. In addition to supervising a team of more than 15, he always ensures the smooth running of the ticket office, ticket machines, and Loomis collections.

Mark really cares about his team and is a massive support to the front-line clerks and other supervisors. He is a rostering genius and can see solutions to problems like no one else.

SHAFIZUL HUSSAIN NETWORK RAIL

ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL STATION TEAM

Shaf is hugely respected by his colleagues and other members of the public. He has superb people skills and treats everyone with respect. During the worst of the pandemic, Shaf helped a homeless person at Manchester Piccadilly station get his life back together where agencies had failed. His kind, caring, non-judgemental manner, and his gentle encouragement, made a real difference, positively impacting this person’s life when they needed it most.

NETWORK RAIL HIGH SPEED It is people like the incredible team at St Pancras International who keep Britain’s stations running.

Operating on the frontline in all weathers in a station environment is a difficult, challenging, and often thankless job. While they make a difference every day, on one particular day the team reacted with exceptional professionalism and expertise to a number of major medical incidents. By putting their training into practice, acting calmly and professionally throughout, their quick thinking safeguarded passengers and colleagues alike.

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SUSAN TEMPLE SCOTRAIL Susan is one of the friendliest and most helpful rail employees there is. She always tries to do more for customers and to make Johnstone station the centre of the community. Her enthusiasm and positivity touch all customers, kickstarting their days with her friendly and caring attitude. For her customers, it is a real pleasure to see Susan and to be served by her.

She is an example of how one person can make a difference in a town, just by excelling in their job and really caring.

#RMRSA23

HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD The RailStaff Awards applaud those who have promoted great practice around health & wellbeing, whose proactive activities and interventions have helped people lead healthier and happier lives. Govia Thameslink Railway sponsors this year’s award.

ANGUS DRAPER

BRIAN REECE

TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

As Safeguarding Manager for London Underground, Gus pioneered the first voluntary enrolment of a rail operator in the Safeguarding on Rail scheme.

Gus is an incredibly energetic and positive member of the TfL team and is always seeking ways to help the organisation become better.

His commitment and dedication to colleagues and customers brightens any team that he works with, and he has a natural talent for bringing people together to achieve more.

Brian has made outstanding contributions to mental health advocacy and support in the workplace. His initiative in organising a mental health drop-in session demonstrates his dedication to promoting wellbeing among his colleagues and creating a supportive environment where people can feel comfortable discussing their struggles.

The positive feedback from participants is a testament to the impact Brian’s efforts have had on the mental health of the workplace.

DANIEL BALL

DEBORAH THOMAS

CROSSCOUNTRY

SOUTHEASTERN

Daniel is a caring, considerate colleague who came to the aid of a team member who was the subject of a verbal attack outside Birmingham New Street station. The incident had left them feeling vulnerable and unable to carry out their role as a senior conductor. Daniel took this person under his wing and helped build their confidence, while supporting their mental wellbeing. He was a great help to his colleague and the company.

Deborah Thomas runs the Health & Wellbeing programme at Southeastern. Truly committed to health and wellbeing, Deborah is passionate about partnership working and stakeholder engagement. She takes an innovative and creative approach to mental health and has introduced a number of new wellbeing initiatives. A great listener, she is definitely one of the unsung heroes of the company.

DOMINIC MOTTRAM

JEREMY BROCK

NETWORK RAIL

NETWORK RAIL

Dominic is a co-chair of Inspire, Network Rail’s gender equality network. He has campaigned tirelessly, advocating for female frontline workers to be given PPE that fits them. Dominic and the Inspire team issued a survey to their members two years ago regarding PPE for women, using the survey to take tangible action and, in June this year, female PPE was launched for all of Network Rail. Dominic also worked with the Network Rail EDI team to implement the roll out of free sanitary products.

Jim always looks after the people around him. As a Health and Wellbeing Lead, he is always educating his colleagues on health and wellbeing topics and ways they can look after themselves and others. He organises a weekly walk for his team so they can socialise with colleagues they don’t normally talk to and get some much-needed fresh air, as well as a break away from the computer screen. He also encourages his colleagues to engage with the community and promotes volunteering opportunities.

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HEALTH & WELLBEING AWARD cont.

KAREN PARKER GB RAILFREIGHT

MARTIN RIDDLE CROSSCOUNTRY Martin is the driver team manager at Derby, overseing the management of 55 drivers, all based at Wyvern House depot. Martin is passionate about his depot and ensuring all drivers receive the appropriate support whenever they experience challenging incidents. This does not stop at his own depot, however. Martin has played an active part in supporting other local depots and ensuring the welfare of drivers is the highest priority. He is a true gentleman who provides a high level of care for his team and others.

ROSIE JHINGAN

Karen has done phenomenal work championing health and wellbeing throughout her organisation.

Her passion for supporting staff and promoting healthier lifestyles has seen her deliver incredible work outside of her remit in procurement. She organised GB Railfreight’s first ever Health & Wellbeing Conference which led to a series of events and interactive sessions throughout June 2023. Karen seeks no praise or recognition for this work, but her efforts have improved lives and helped the organisation create a healthier culture.

RAILWAY MISSION CHAPLAIN TEAM RAILWAY MISSION Through their innovative and proactive initiatives, the Railway Mission Chaplain Team have not only promoted excellent practices but have also transformed the lives of countless individuals within the railway industry. Railway Mission’s remarkable contributions around health and wellbeing have made a profound impact on the physical and mental health of railway employees, enabling individuals to lead healthier and happier lives, and ultimately saving lives within the industry.

MERSEYRAIL Rosie is an Occupational Health Advisor and has played a big part in many employees’ lives. When Rosie joined Merseyrail, the business was starting to recover from Covid-19, but it had taken its full effect on staff with large numbers of absences and people struggling to see medical professionals.

Rosie has offered clinical advice on the best way to treat their illnesses which they hadn’t had access to previously, and advises managers on the best ways to support their staff.

SHARON HERSHMAN SOUTHEASTERN Despite her busy role as a Local Controller, Sharon always takes the time to support her colleagues and is genuinely concerned with helping anyone who needs it. The health and wellbeing of all her colleagues is always a priority and Sharon’s door is always open to staff if they ever need a chat. She also volunteers her own time as a Team Leader for Southeastern’s Rail Care Team, which provides support to passengers in the event of traumatic incidents.

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#RMRSA23 SHEREE WHETREN SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY Sheree is an inspiration to so many of her colleagues. She is such a happy-go-lucky person who puts her colleagues at ease. Sheree is a force of nature and a hugely positive breath of fresh air. She is very much a people person and very engaging to work with or be trained by. Whatever she delivers she does it with honesty and passion, and she works tirelessly with groups both inside and outside the railway.

SHIRLEY COURTNEY SCOTRAIL Shirley Courtney, Station Team Manager, North Clyde, offers unwavering support to her staff during complex and challenging times in their lives. Her actions go above and beyond the call of duty and have an impact on so many lives in the railway family. Shirley’s dedication to the health and well-being of her staff has saved lives. Her leadership, awareness, thoughtfulness and understanding make her the embodiment of ScotRail’s vision and values.

STUART YOUNG, IAIN PERRY, AND RIK MOSTERT GTR Rail Enforcement Officers Stuart Young and Iain Perry, and On Board Host Hendrik Mostert, are no strangers to incidents and interventions on the railway. They regularly come across people in need of help, and some even at crisis point. Stuart, Iain, and Rik have become involved with the charity AndyManClub, a group where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a judgement-free environment. Stuart, Iain, and Rik have gone on-board services and visited stations with facilitators from the charity, spreading the word that help is out there.

VINCENT HOILETT SOUTHERN Vince does a huge amount to help and support his colleagues, whether that’s listening and offering help at work or caring for colleagues with medical needs during his free time, everyone who knows Vince knows what a caring person he is. He will never let anybody down and always goes above and beyond.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT & INVESTING IN PEOPLE AWARD Learning and development can take many forms. All new employees need training on how to do their jobs and on the safety aspects of what they are required to do. Then there is career development and continuous professional development. Rhomberg Sersa sponsors this award which honours the individuals and teams who give others the gift of their knowledge.

ABDUL REHMAN SAVANT

ALAN GEARING

ASAVRAIL

GTR

As director of ASAVRAIL, Abdul has had a significant impact on the rail industry. He has the passion and determination to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing, whether that is as part of the technical seminars/CPDs he organises on a global level, or the professional training, development, and mentorship he provides to his fellow industry professionals. Abdul is very deserving of this recognition for his hard work.

ALINA-FLORENTINA LIGHEAN

ALISTAIR DUNN

ATKINSRÉALIS

CROSSCOUNTRY

Alina Lighean is a true mentor. She is a powerhouse in the rail industry with a wealth of experience across the sector. Alina has worked her way up to Associate Director at AtkinsRéalis, and not only does she lead the North-West Estimating Discipline and the HS2 Balfour Beatty Vinci Main Works Civils contract cost assurance framework, but she is also sharing experiences with her mentees.

Her mentorship is focused on people development and changing careers and lives by coaching with care.

Alistair has been the Train Manager Coach at Newcastle depot for the past six years. During that time, he has played a key part in the training and coaching of new Train Managers once they have left the training school.

He has carried out peer assessments to keep Train Manager’s competency packs up to date and also trained the majority of Newcastle depot’s Train Managers on the HST power assisted doors when they were modified. “It has been a pleasure to work alongside Alistair and have him as a mentor,” said a colleague.

APPRENTICESHIP SUPPORT TEAM

CARL BAVISTER

SOUTHERN

AVANTI WEST COAST

Southern’s Apprenticeship Support Team is nominated for their unwavering commitment to fostering growth, cultivating talent, and nurturing the next generation of railway professionals. This has set them apart as an exceptional team at GTR, especially in their support of apprentice drivers throughout the FS and driver training. Their innovative approach, hands-on support, and development of apprentices is second to none. They go above and beyond so that each apprentice feels valued on their journey.

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Alan has supported and aided in developing the training programmes for staff within GTR Network Operations, which is outside of his normal working remit. He consistently shows his commitment to wanting to give staff the best possible training, developing and enabling them to be the best they can be. Alan is committed to supporting all staff, even after training, and always ensures that he keeps a close eye on newly passed out members of the team, giving encouragement and support where needed.

Carl supports new starters, ensuring they are equipped with the necessary skills and behaviours that a station dispatcher needs. He spends time with them from when they arrive at the station until they pass out, familiarising them with station orientation, completing mentor diaries, and ensuring they have non-technical skills in place. Carl is incredibly passionate in his mentor role. He takes the time to train individuals thoroughly and does all he can to ensure trainees are fully trained and competent in the role.

#RMRSA23 CHRIS CRAWLEY AND THE CITY & GUILDS IMPACT TEAM CITY & GUILDS TRAINING (INTERTRAIN) The City & Guilds Impact Team is committed to helping people into a job, on the job, and into the next job. From being pioneers of rail traineeships through to supporting ex-offenders into the rail sector, it goes above and beyond to equip individuals with the skills needed to succeed. Chris lives and breathes the journey of learners entering the rail industry.

He works closely with employers ensuring that course contents give the learners the best opportunity and continues to support learners once they have completed their course.

JAMES BECKINGHAM GTR James has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and innovation in the field of learning & development. His efforts have significantly impacted the individuals he has worked with. James has shown a deep commitment to investing in people by providing mentorship and coaching to individuals at all levels of the company. His guidance has played a pivotal role in the professional growth and success of many team members. He’ll always go out of his way to help anyone and is a pleasure to work with.

Enabling Future Mobility

MARK KIRTON GTR A colleague said: “Mark has been so helpful in helping to improve my skills for rail and customer service. Whenever I’ve felt uncomfortable or needed support, he has been there to help and improve my understanding of situations I am unsure of. Mark is caring and thoughtful, a great team worker who knows how to take the lead.”

MARK LAW NETWORK RAIL Mark is the Development, Training, and Competency Manager at Network Rail. He never stops looking at ways to improve skills and competency for telecoms, and has dedicated over 25 years to learning, developing, and investing in people. Mark drives forward new initiatives and ensures all training is fit for purpose. He is the go-to person for help and advice and is always eager to provide guidance. Colleagues say Mark is inspirational, and his passion and commitment is contagious.

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Operating throughout the project lifecycle, we deliver solutions including track renewals and maintenance, overhead line, tunnel refurbishment, gauge enhancement, and specialist on-track plant in-line excavation and material handling systems. We are Europe’s leading slab track design and build specialist and our solutions are complemented by a wealth of experience from our global business.

Learning, Development & Investing in People Award

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RailStaff Awards 2023

Rhomberg Sersa UK Ltd | T +44 (0)300 30 30 230 2 Sarah Court, Yorkshire Way, Doncaster, DN3 3FD uk.rhomberg-sersa.com | enquiries@rsrg.com

Rhomberg Sersa UK Ltd | Unit 2 Sarah Court, Yorkshire Way, Doncaster DN3 3FD T +44 (0)300 30 30 230 | www.uk.rhomberg-sersa.com | enquiries@rsrg.com

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

LEARNING, DEVELOPMENT & INVESTING IN PEOPLE AWARD cont.

METRO SOUTH SOUTHERN OPERATIONS TEAM SOUTHERN

MIKE MITCHELL NETWORK RAIL Nothing is too much for Mike, he strives to provide the very best training experience for each and every one of his delegates. He takes the experiences that he has from being a Field Engineer into the training environment, having his day job and providing first class training. Mike works with the development teams and projects, always striving to give his very best to every requirement. His passion and dedication to training shines. He is an inspirational role model.

The Metro South Southern Operations Team is nominated for their dedication to the development of drivers at Selhurst and Norwood Depot. The team has established a program which focuses on current drivers and their development in non-technical skills and strategies. This program invests in drivers as career people, allowing them to obtain a professional qualification to support their development and future career journey. This helps Southern retain talent while developing its staff.

ROBERT PORTER SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

SRIKANTH REDDY MANDALAPU

Robert is always looking for ways to encourage the staff he manages to develop and progress within SWR and beyond. He uses regular time with the Manager meetings along with other conversations to get an understanding of how people see their plans for the future and any aspirations they have. Using this information, he looks out for existing or new courses and matches the course to the person. He is always giving people ideas about what they can achieve and always proactively looking for ways to help enhance their motivation.

WABTEC CONTROL SYSTEMS A colleague said: “Srikanth was my project lead when I was very new to UK railroad activities. By luck, I was placed onto one of the projects he was handling. After just a few days under his training, support, and guidance I was capable of doing what was required of me. Anyone with his support can become competent in a short period. He is a ‘live and let live’ type of person, and always strives to give his best in everything he does. I wish every new employee could have a mentor like him.”

STEWART EKSTROM-GABB TRANSPORT FOR WALES Stewart has gone above and beyond in delivering lifesaving training. He chose to put himself forward to take on specialist training in suicide prevention that he is vigorously rolling out through Transport for Wales. Stewart stands out due to his dedication and passion which has resulted in outstanding feedback. He has equipped over 100 staff to make life saving interventions.

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#RMRSA23

RAIL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR The Rail Engineer of the Year Award celebrates the individuals who know the railway like the back of their hand. Those who rise to a challenge and come up with the results, or who have achieved an amazing feat of engineering excellence. GeoAccess is proud to sponsor this year’s award.

AARON DARBY

BRIAN MOORE

HEATHROW RAIL

AVANTI WEST COAST

Aaron’s attitude and work ethic shines through, and he has set a terrific example for Heathrow Rail personnel. Heathrow Rail’s POD system struggled to recover from Covid, and a system issue decreased its vehicle speeds for three months. Aaron took the lead in resolving these challenges, working on his days off to train others and assist the system in being fully operational and ready for passenger service. In the past year, he has become a Team Leader, building a fantastic team. His efforts and accomplishments are praised by his colleagues.

Brian is Avanti West Coast’s Fleet Engineer.

He is constantly working alongside his team to keep Avanti’s fleet in great working order. Anytime an engineer is required en route, he’s there. Nothing is too much trouble for him, and he always makes sure that a fitter is on hand. He also goes out and about checking the trains and chatting with staff.

Brian’s team really appreciates his hard work and dedication.

“Brian is the best,” they say. “A champion of champions.”

CLAUDIA PHILPS

DAVID MILLAR

NETWORK RAIL

BALFOUR BEATTY VINCI

As Programme Manager, Claudia lead the repair of the Nuneham viaduct and reinstatement of the railway; an extremely high-profile project. As the project lead, Claudia was also the face of the recovery operation working hand in glove with Network Rail’s supply chain and stakeholders, keeping everyone informed and delivering on her promises. She coordinated all the complex interfaces ensuring that Network Rail reopened the railway earlier than promised and put its neighbours, passengers, and freight holders at the forefront of her thinking throughout.

David Millar was in charge of managing the design and the works for the West Coast Mainline Bridge and South Staffordshire Line Bridge which took place in summer. He created two great teams and enhanced their teamwork. Both were very challenging projects with tight deadlines, but they were both delivered on time, with the highest standards of health and safety. All members of both teams were grateful for working with David and learned a lot during both blockades. Not only about how construction and engineering works, but also how to support and respect one another.

GARY THOMPSON

HEIMO NIEMINEN

KONUX GMBH

NETWORK RAIL

With an impressive career at Network Rail, Gary has showcased unparalleled expertise and dedication, making him an invaluable asset to Konux and the entire railway industry. Gary’s profound understanding of railway operations at all levels has significantly enriched his team. His ability to prioritise client needs, focusing not just on their requests but on delivering maximum value, has helped transform client relationships. Always ready to assist, Gary generously shares his expertise, creating a positive work environment and inspiring excellence in all.

Heimo displays exceptional demonstration of customer-driven behaviours and a forward-thinking approach to improving the resilience of key railway infrastructure.

His commitment to understanding and addressing customer needs is exemplary, and he has actively sought out innovative solutions to enhance reliability and performance. His proactive approach and forward-thinking mindset have resulted in improved power system performance, strengthened infrastructure resilience, and facilitated economic growth in the central section of the Western route.

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

RAIL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR cont.

JAMES DONNELLY LUMO

JANINE BOOTLAND AMEY CONSULTING Janine is a fantastic ambassador for the railway sector. An extremely competent rail civil engineer who excels in her field, Janine’s expertise in station design has been instrumental to the successful delivery of new station schemes for TransPennine Upgrade West. Janine is the ultimate problem solver, taking on every issue that is thrown at her and quietly delivering the solution. She is a fantastic team leader who gets the best from her team, helping them to develop and grow with technical support, encouragement, and trust.

LANCE KIRBY

Jim is Lumo’s most valued Rolling Stock Engineer. He is an expert in his field and joined Lumo after a four-year stint as a Senior Production Manager at Hitachi Rail Limited. Jim holds a wealth of knowledge and experience, but it is his willingness to share this amongst the wider team that makes him stand tall above the rest. He is committed to driving the success of Lumo and selflessly dedicates his time to help educate everyone around him.

KALEN RUDDOCK ALSTOM From the moment Kalen interviewed for Alstom’s Level seven systems engineer apprenticeship, he distinguished himself as having exceptional drive, aptitude, technical and leadership qualities. Joining Alstom in September 2021, Kalen hit the ground running. Unafraid to challenge, Kalen has embraced every opportunity to develop his skillset and progress to high-profile and pioneering digital railway product development and enhancement.

ALSTOM Lance uses his extensive site and design experience to ensure workforce needs are considered and solutions are safely and practically installed and maintainable. Involved in delivering first-of-its-kind technology and leading the development of an innovative staff protection system, Lance is passionate about enhancing workforce safety and creating operational efficiencies. An ethos he is renowned for, and why he is so well-respected by colleagues.

NARESH KUMAR KALRA ATKINSRÉALIS Naresh is a positive, inspiring, and enthusiastic signalling professional working on some of AtkinsRéalis technically complex projects. He has contributed significantly to new ideas, concepts, and skills in the signalling domain and has delivered challenging projects including the Norwich Yarmouth Lowestoft (NYL) and Feltham Phase 3/4 schemes.

Naresh always strives to achieve the highest standards in all activities he performs. He is a great mentor and a go-to person for all his colleagues in the AtkinsRéalis team.

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#RMRSA23 NICK WIGHTMAN AMEY CONSULTING Nick is the Contractor’s Responsible Engineer (CRE) for Structures within Sections W1 and W4 of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU). He has worked predominantly on bespoke Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) foundations and attachments to viaducts, as well as on bridge reconstructions and parapet works. In addition, he leads the structures team in Manchester and is currently part of the Network Rail Accelerated Leadership Programme, one of very few on the programme from outside Network Rail. He uses his social impact days to help with repairs on the Keighley and Worth Valley Heritage Railway (KWVR).

RICHARD YATES FREIGHTLINER Richard started his Freightliner career in 2007, working as a wagon fitter out of Freightliner’s Leeds VMF where he quickly got promoted to wagon supervisor. He progressed his career by moving over to the General Repair (GR) facility in York where he became the Production Manager. In 2016 Richard became the Depot Manager at Manchester Guidebridge, relocating to the newly built GR facility. He is a true people person, compassionate and ethical, whilst maintaining a professional can- do attitude when it comes to any job at hand.

TOBY OWEN

Asset Management Specialists

AECOM Toby has over 25 years of experience as a civil engineer working in both the highways and railway environment. He spent many years designing bridges and other civil engineering structures but is now focused on the multi-disciplinary design of railway systems and associated infrastructure. Toby has been instrumental in driving improvements in design procedure and technical approach. He is passionate about putting sustainability and environmental impact at the forefront of design.

VELMURUGAN KANDASAMY

PROUD SPONSOR OF RAILSTAFF AWARDS

• Asset Inspections • Access Solutions • Ground Investigation • Enabling Works

THALES GROUND TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS For the last few years, Velmurugan has been an instrumental engineer on the Four Lines Modernisation Programme, the largest upgrade programme on the London Underground network. Velmurugan has been leading a team of signalling engineers on three key areas of the programme, with significant involvement in many other areas too. He is currently leading a team to deliver three migration areas, covering the east end of the District Line and the Metropolitan Line, the latter of which is one of the most complex, with interfaces to the Jubilee Line and the Neasden Depot, the largest depot on the programme.

01543 411994 | info@geoaccess.co.uk | www.geoaccess.co.uk

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT Sponsored by Telent, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the industry over the past 20 years. Each one deserves our thanks for their commitment, passion, and dedication to Rail.

ALAN NEVILLE

ALAN NEWMAN

GREATER ANGLIA

CHILTERN RAILWAYS

There aren’t many jobs that Alan hasn’t done on the railway, from ticket office right through to Station Manager. He gained his experience through British Rail and many TOC’s, and is now Greater Anglia’s Community and Customer Engagement Manager. Alan can be seen meeting with community members, sprucing up areas through the Station Adopter groups, and getting the local public involved in their station. Alan loves his job and is a true asset to Greater Anglia. He always steps up to offer help and support and is always there for his staff.

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Born in 1946, Alan has given his entire working life to the rail industry, in all its guises.

Alan was a traction inspector for many years and has influenced and guided the career of many a train driver across the country.

He has signalled trains, managed major London stations, and worked in numerous Operational Control Centres. Alan has mentored a huge number of individuals, work that continues today at Chiltern Railways.

ASHLEY HUGHES

BRADLEY READ

FREIGHTLINER

GREATER ANGLIA

Ash celebrates 40 years at Freightliner this month. He has always been passionate about the railway so when the opportunity came to join the company in November 1983 he jumped at the chance, starting his career as a train driver. He soon realised that he would like to share his experience and was keen to support other drivers, initially as a driver standards manager. Today, Ash can be found developing new trainees, passing on his valuable knowledge, and overseeing major changes to the delivery of operational training.

A colleague said the following about Bradley: “What else can I say other than 34 years of amazing customer service! Regardless of the situation Bradley always has a warm, welcoming smile for all of his customers.

His calm demeanour is an inspiration to us all and he has gained the trust of many regular customers over the years. He is a fantastic colleague, always putting a smile on your face and a joy to work with.”

FRANNIE THURLBECK

HEATHER CULLIMORE

KELTBRAY LTD

SEVERNSIDE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP

Frannie possesses an unwavering passion for HSQE and a genuine affinity for people. His remarkable ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all organisational levels, from junior staff to senior executives, is a testament to his exceptional interpersonal skills. Regardless of the subject, Frannie’s warm demeanour, infectious smile, and engaging manner captivates others, often acting as a gateway to honest and open discussions on safety, health, and environmental topics.

Heather works as line officer for the Severnside Community Rail Partnership and brings a determined and positive attitude to her role in enhancing community involvement in the railway. As the sole full-time salaried staff member, she has helped the partnership go from strength to strength, facilitating a range of cross-industry projects involving vulnerable young people, refugees, and those with additional needs. Heather is determined to turn the railway into an asset that the whole community can take pride in, and her tireless work makes a real difference.

#RMRSA23 IAN BROWN GTR Starting as an engineering apprentice more than 30 years ago, Ian has gained knowledge and experience in all engineering departments, with a focus on safety. Ian demonstrates incredible passion every day by being available 24/7 and getting involved in any process improvements. He goes above and beyond to ensure a safe working place for all engineering colleagues. He has led the fleet safety team for a lifetime and shared his knowledge and experience with many colleagues. He is calm in moments of crisis and supports his team and other colleagues in difficult times.

IAN SIMMS NETWORK RAIL SCOTLAND Ian has spent a lifetime looking after Scotland’s Railway. Formally a bridge inspector and senior paint specialist on the iconic Forth Bridge, Ian was asked to play the bagpipes for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee on top of the bridge. Ian’s dedication to duty is a secret to no one. His wealth of knowledge, quick wit, and dedication to excellence in workmanship will be sorely missed when he hangs up his hard hat.

JERRY SIMS XEIAD, PART OF THE BES GROUP Jerry joined the railway in July 1978 at 18 years old and, through various TUPE transfers, has achieved more than 45 years of continuous service. In 1990 he attended one of the very last bridge examiners courses to be held at the British Rail training school at the Grove in Watford. During his time as a structures examiner, he has completed over 15,000 individual examinations, including attending and managing a reopening of the line on a significant number of occasions following bridge strikes and other structural failures.

A proven track record as a business, employer and trusted partner.

Proud to sponsor the lifetime achievement award.

JULIE GARN GB RAILFREIGHT Julie Garn is the Head of Intermodal at GB Railfreight. For over 20 years, she has dedicated herself to growing the intermodal offer, from next to nothing in 2002, to running a high performing team which operate 52 daily intermodal services. Across the industry, many look up to Julie, due to her relentless work ethic, passion for delivering for her customers and ongoing desire to grow GBRf as a business and as a leading female in a male-dominated sector.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT Telent www.telent.com

0800 783 7761

talktotelent@telent.com

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RAILSTAFF AWARDS 2023 | THE NEC | RAILSTAFFAWARDS.COM | 01530 816 444

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT cont.

MICK OWEN FREIGHTLINER

RICHARD GODWIN NETWORK RAIL Richard’s knowledge, passion, and dedication in the field of rail suicide prevention is second to none. He is a tireless advocate for change and improvement in the service of saving lives. His support of Samaritans and their partnership with the rail industry has been instrumental in increasing their visibility on the network, in turn saving lives when people reach out for support. Countless stations have been improved by his work. He is truly a force for good in the industry and thoroughly deserves recognition.

STEVE WOODCOCK

Mick joined the railway in 1970 and by the early 1980s had taken up a role in loco diagramming for Rail House BR before moving over to Transrail, which later became EWS. In 1998, EWS relocated to Doncaster resulting in Mick spending half his week lodged away until he joined Freightliner in 2006 as an Infrastructure Planner. Mick has demonstrated himself as a dependable employee who is essential to the smooth running of countless railway infrastructure jobs. His colleagues describe him as a pillar of support and continuity for all through difficult times.

SIMON LANGLEY SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY Simon joined the railway straight from school in 1987. Starting off with British Rail Network South East, he went on to complete a number of roles before moving into Station Management with Thames Trains and then First Great Western. In 2010 he moved over to South West Trains where he held roles at Richmond, Staines & Surbiton. Sadly, Simon unexpectedly passed away in September 2023. He was loved by many for his determination to improving standards in his area of control on the railway.

GREATER ANGLIA Steve has 50 years of Railway experience, starting as a BR engineering apprentice. He very quickly took to electronics and, early in his career, was tasked with setting up the first computer in the region. Teaching himself, he used his knowledge to set up punch-card-type computing for maintenance of railway assets. Steve is now the Fleet Systems Engineer for Greater Anglia. He is the crux of his department and more than worthy of recognition.

STEWART CUMMING CROSSCOUNTRY Stewart joined British Rail in 1996 after 20 years’ service with the Royal Navy. He made his move into management in 2000, when he was appointed as Customer Service Manager Edinburgh. Apart from a one-year break between 2009 and 2010, Stewart has spent the rest of his career as Customer Service Manager, initially with Virgin Trains, then with Arriva. During his career Stewart has hired and trained hundreds of employees and served as a coach and mentor to new Customer Service Managers.

With over 27 years’ service, he is more than deserving of this award.

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#RMRSA23

RAIL TEAM OF THE YEAR Train’d Up Railway Resourcing supports the Rail Team of the Year Award, which rewards those teams who have shown incredible concern and support for colleagues or delivered a project in the face of significant challenges.

BANBURY DISPATCH TEAM

BBV SUBLOT 8.2

CHILTERN RAILWAYS

BALFOUR BEATTY VINCI

The team working Banbury Platforms are simply wonderful. It’s been a tough year with some short staffing, but the team has pulled together to make sure the hours are covered. In times of disruption, they make sure everyone at the station, from customers to gateline staff, are kept up-to-date, making what could be a trying time run as smoothly as possible. Several of the team have gone the extra mile when dealing with distressed customers and the positive feedback that comes through their Customer Service department is testament to their value to Chiltern and the railway as a whole.

Years of planning/organising and adapting by members of HS2 and BBV resulted in a seamless blockade at Fulfen Wood. Not only was this operation carried out effectively and to an incredibly high standard, but colleagues also say it was great fun working with this team. Every challenge was met with a positive approach, and nothing was too difficult to overcome. Excellent teamwork resulted in a very successful, safe, efficient project.

BLACKPOOL GATELINE OPERATORS

BLACKPOOL TRAVEL SAFE OFFICERS

NORTHERN

AMULET

The Blackpool Gateline are very well respected by all colleagues at Blackpool North station. They are known for their outstanding communication skills, passion for customer service, and resolute determination. The team ensures that customers are at the heart of everything they do, and they work closely with the Blackpool Travel Safe Officers. It is an awesome sight to see how well these teams work together.

Travel Safe Officers often go unnoticed, but not at Blackpool. These officers always lead the way with their dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm. They go more than go the extra mile, making sure that conductors and customers are safe on trains with their proactive teamwork combined with their situational awareness and multitasking work ethic. These officers always say “we are just doing the job we love” but have gained the utmost respect from all colleagues at Blackpool North station.

DC LINES RESLEEPERING ALLIANCE

GWR APPRENTICE TEAM

NETWORK RAIL

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

In less than 18 months, the DC Lines Resleepering Alliance planned and delivered the replacement of 24,000 worn out wooden sleepers with new concrete sleepers in three blockades on Network Rail’s DC Lines (Euston-Watford).This was achieved through huge passion, determination, collaboration, and innovation. Once the last blockade was over, a sleeper was engraved and installed in the track to commemorate the achievement. It is a fitting reminder of just what was achieved.

GWR’s Apprentice Team have achieved some incredible results this year, culminating in an Investors in People Gold accreditation. The team of nine have continuously built their skills and knowledge and are considered industry leaders delivering 53,000 training hours in the year. The team also deliver the Duke of Edinburgh Business Gold programme to the Customer Service and Engineering young apprentices, the Junior Life Skills safety programme in the south west, and the Junior Citizens programme in Oxford.

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RAIL TEAM OF THE YEAR cont.

JOHNSTONE STATION STAFF SCOTRAIL

LONDON CITY FOCUS GROUP SOUTHEASTERN The London City Focus Group does so much for their colleagues and charities. Every month the team put on two events at London Bridge & Cannon Street stations to promote health and wellbeing, and to boost morale.

They have been doing this for over 10 years and deserve to be recognised for their persistence in helping and supporting staff. They are always there for colleagues with a listening ear, signposting them to services that are available. Their commitment to staff’s mental and physical wellbeing is astounding.

PLANNING & PERFORMANCE TEAM

Johnstone train station is one of the busiest on the ScotRail network. It lies 15 minutes from Glasgow on the Glasgow-to-Ayr mainline. The staff at Johnstone support not just the local community, but communities across Strathclyde. They are passionate about their station and community, and are very proactive with helping out. Over the years they’ve supported many local local projects including Woman’s Aid and Turning point, and they continue to collect pyjamas for children on behalf of the Provost of Renfrewshire.

MERSEYRAIL LIVERPOOL HALF MARATHON TEAM MERSEYRAIL In a conversation with another driver at Birkenhead Central, Craig Murphy, a leader driver at Merseyrail’s Birkenhead, suggested they run the Liverpool Half Marathon in March 2023. That idea snowballed, and 16 people became involved, raising money for Parkinsons UK. The day was emotional from start to finish, and the team raised just under £9,000 for charity.

LUMO Lumo’s Planning & Performance team is a small but mighty team of just three, who execute the same level of work that, across the wider industry, would take a team of 10. Every single member of the team is a newcomer to their role, but in their first year, they have made an incredible impact on the business. They excel in their role, ensuring that Lumo has zero gaps in its train planning strategy and that performance management is well understood across the board.

SERRANO SAFEGUARDING TEAM WORKING ON OPERATION BEACH AMULET Amulet piloted a scheme where existing gateline staff were replaced with four Serrano Safeguarding Officers. They were gateline trained and given a specific brief to focus on challenging passengers without tickets and safeguarding passengers at the station. Initially, staff assaults increased given that fare evaders and potential criminals were being challenged, but over a four-week period that reduced. On two separate occasions, young men came to the station for safety. In addition to crime reduction, Operation Serrano has helped increase ticket transactions and revenue growth.

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#RMRSA23 SOUTHERN OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM SOUTHERN In May 2023, the brand new Southern Operational Response team was formed with the challenge of improving the speed and consistency that operating incidents could be tackled across the network. The aim was to improve safety performance, prevent delays and develop the working partnership between Operations, Fleet, and Network Rail. The OR team have worked exceptionally hard to establish a reputation for competence and reliability, earning widespread acclaim from control-based GTR and Network Rail colleagues. In consequence, performance delays due to operating incidents on GTR have fallen significantly.

WEST ROSTERS AND SUPPORT TEAM GREATER ANGLIA The West Roster team (Nicola, Sam, and Scott) go above and beyond completing rosters, allocating overtime, rest days, work to cover sickness, and annual leave. They do so with no complaints, and are not often recognised for all the hard work they put in. Thanks to them, Greater Anglia ensures that staff are supported if they need any changes to their rosters, disruption is much more easily managed thanks to the correct cover, and all staff take their entitled annual leave. They are real unsung heroes.

WESTERN ROUTE STRUCTURES EXAMINATIONS TEAM XEIAD, PART OF THE BES GROUP The Western Route Structures Examination Team examines every civil engineering asset on the Western Route from Signal Post SN1 on Platform 1 at Paddington Station to the coastal defence protecting the line at Penzance Station and everything in between. Amounting to in excess of 10,000 individual assets including bridges, viaducts, culverts, retaining walls, and tunnels examined on an annual basis. The last two years have seen significant change and upheaval for the team but, they have never forgotten that the most important duty they perform is to keep themselves, their colleagues, and the public safe week in, week out.

WOLVERHAMPTON CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE TEAM WEST MIDLANDS TRAINS The Wolverhampton Customer Experience Manager team are one of the most adaptable you will come across on the railway. The team was created in late 2021 and they have gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience in a short amount of time. They truly demonstrate the brand values of West Midlands Railway. No day is the same and they often deal with the issues that arise from disruption, crowd management, and project redevelopments. West Midlands Rail is extremely proud of the team and their achievements.

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RAIL PERSON OF THE YEAR This award celebrates the success of the most exceptional people within the rail industry. Those who have shown true dedication, remained calm and collected under incredible pressure, or gone above and beyond for their teams. Inspire Structures Ltd is proud to sponsor the Rail Person of the Year award.

ADAM ARCHER

ASHLEY RYAN

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY

NETWORK RAIL

Adam is an exceptional individual who has made a significant impact at Swindon traincrew depot through his dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment to driver development and growth. After his appointment as leading driver in 2019, Adam has consistently demonstrated his remarkable ability to identify areas for improvement and proactively develop innovative solutions. He has been instrumental in creating and implementing a wide range of development tools that have significantly enhanced the learning experience for Swindon drivers, from creating and tailoring upskill sessions to meet the drivers needs, to creating and delivering development.

CHARLES DICKSON

CHRIS MCGOWAN

SOUTHERN

MERSEYRAIL

Charles has demonstrated, on countless occasions, his selflessness and willingness to go out of his way for anyone. Among other incidents this year he has helped to resuscitate an unconscious individual while waiting for the emergency services and gone out of his way to help an intoxicated individual home after no cab services would take him in. Charles continually goes out of his way for others.

This is the type of dedication that deserves to be recognised.

Chris joined the revenue protection team in 2021.

He is highly proactive and offers support to anyone who is in need. His attitude and ability have helped him to progress very quickly, and he is now in a highly challenging role as a Lead Revenue Protection Officer. Chris has been instrumental in his office hitting high levels of performance over the last 12 months with levels never seen before. Chris is a caring person who wants to help as many people as he can. He is a mental health first aider and a menopause champion.

CRAIG MURPHY

ELLIOTT WATERS

MERSEYRAIL

SOUTHEASTERN

Craig’s exceptional dedication to enhancing the safety and camaraderie within his team is truly commendable. As a driver mentor, he has tirelessly worked towards improving safety standards, demonstrating his commitment to creating a safer network for all. His warm and welcoming demeanour extends beyond the workplace. Craig’s efforts in organizing a ‘Walk and Talk’ event outside of work not only promoted physical well-being but also created a sense of unity.

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Ashley was appointed as a Welding and Grinding Section Manager less than 12 months ago, but he has made a phenomenal difference to his team and their performance. He immediately identified inefficient ways of working and sought to improve these. This put his section at the forefront of rail defect removal. Ashley has modernised the way the department works, increasing efficiency, reliability, and safety. He has also looked at changing equipment to make the frontline tasks easier, more cost effective and of better quality.

Elliott is a truly genuine person. He has the railway running through him, and does everything to benefit others, including charity events, community talks, being a supportive manager, and providing a listening ear.

Nothing is ever too much, and he is very flexible, working around other’s needs rather than his own. Always positive, and with a smile on his face, Elliott is a truly great colleague, manager, and a truly worthy winner of Rail Person of the Year.

#RMRSA23 ISAAC ENYAN AMULET SECURITY - TRENITALIA C2C LTD Isaac Enyan is a Serrano Safeguarding Officer based at Grays station. He deals with multiple challenges at the station including fare evasion, anti-social behaviour, verbal threats and staff assaults, always taking the lead to ensure that his colleagues and passengers are kept safe. He engages with anti-social young people, giving them advice on their life choices. He does this in the hope of making a difference to just one young person’s life. He is very highly regarded and respected at c2c and Amulet.

JADE SOUTHWELL GTR Jade is the lynchpin of GTR’s Continuous Improvement team, striving to ensure especially complex projects are completed to time and on schedule. The outstanding achievement to her name is the redevelopment of the London Victoria Control Point, revitalising a dated control room with improved display screen equipment, lighting, furnishings and more.

Her project management and people management skills work in tandem to produce tangible improvements for fellow colleagues, and her tenacity, drive, and leadership skills are a credit to her.

JOANA AMOH CARLISLE SUPPORT SERVICES Not only does Joana take pride in her duties but has shown a professional approach and built a great relationship with her client, Arriva Rail London (ARL).

Joana has faced many challenges which have resulted in her saving three lives, supporting passengers along the Network, and assisting with travel. Joana is a great seamstress, and this year was approached by ARL to make covers for the Validators at Stations along the Network. Using recycled uniform jackets, she has so far made nine of them.

MOHAMMED QURESHI AMULET SECURITY - TRENITALIA C2C LTD Mohammed is a model employee who is passionate about his role in keeping passengers and staff safe. Mohammed demonstrates the best customer service with passengers, taking ownership of ensuring his fellow officers are working to the same high standards. He has identified and reported potential safeguarding incidents with children at risk and vulnerable adults on numerous occasions, working with the c2c team at Fenchurch to ensure their safety and that the relevant services are notified.

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RAIL PERSON OF THE YEAR cont.

OLIVER HARRISON AVANTI WEST COAST

PETER JACKSON ARRIVA RAIL LONDON (OVERGROUND) Peter was appointed by Arriva Rail London (ARL) in early 2023 as its Project Manager to work with Network Rail (NR) to relocate their operational staff and deliver a brand-new ARL Traincrew facility at London Euston Station. He has shown immediate leadership within his organisation and threw himself into the project. His leadership, hard work, and ingenuity, means that ARL staff have a brand new, bright, modern facility at Euston Station for the first time in a generation, and HS2 enabling works can continue without further costs being incurred.

Customer Service Assistant Olly is based at Stockport. Apart from being a great team player, a tech genius, health & safety rep, and always wanting to improve the customer’s experience, he comes up with some unique ways to keep the teams engaged. His recent idea was to create a series of short videos called ‘This is Stockport’. Each video featured a member of the Stockport team talking about things they do when not at work.

These were shared on Avanti’s communication channel for all to see and the feedback has been amazing.

PHILIP OLWENY AMULET SECURITY - TRENITALIA C2C LTD

SUSAN TEMPLE

Philip’s role is about keeping people safe. He has become a beacon of the team at Grays station and has made a huge impact on creating a safe environment for passengers whilst reducing ticketless travel. Philip has had countless praise from passengers and c2c staff alike. Philip sees safeguarding as his number one priority. He treats the station as if it was his home, trying to look after everyone that comes through.

‘Big Phil’, as he is known to regular passengers and his colleagues, always does what is right.

SCOTRAIL Susan goes to great trouble to welcome and inform, guide, and advise all her customers.

She is patient and friendly and also respectful and considerate, showing true human compassion through a recent tragedy at the station. She has made her station a vibrant community hub and with her leadership has involved her staff on huge charitable activities that have benefitted Johnstone and a much larger community of those in need.

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TREVOR LEONARD SOUTHERN Trevor’s exceptional dedication, leadership, and positive impact on the rail community make them a standout candidate for this prestigious recognition. Throughout Trevor’s tenure at Southern, they have unwavering commitment to excellence. Their passion for the rail industry is infectious, and it has inspired their colleagues and peers to strive for greatness. What truly sets Trevor apart is their ability to inspire and motivate those around them. They have taken it upon themselves to mentor and guide others, imparting their wealth of knowledge from most aspects of the railway and experience.

#RMRSA23

CASINO & RIDES FAIRGROUND RIDES & PHOTO BOOTH Dodgems, waltzer, twist rides, and get a snap in the photo booth!

CASINO Come and have a go at our fun casino!

Casino tables are free to play.

Just walk up and grab your chips! Roulette wheel and blackjack tables are available.

1st Prize - £30 One4all voucher 2nd Prize - Bottle of Champagne 3rd Prize - House bottle of wine

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AWARD SPONSORS

QUATTRO GROUP ADVERT_90X130mm.indd 1

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#RMRSA23 TRANSFORMING THE INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY Do you want to work on some of the most exciting infrastructure projects in the world?

We are a principled progressive organisation, with a collaborative culture, are an accredited ‘Great Place to Work’ and Silver ‘Investors in People’

We’re also looking for passionate and talented people like you to be part of our growing team!

THANK YOU... …for joining us at the RailStaff Awards. It goes without saying that your support for this industry, and the people who work in it, is appreciated. Especially after the last few years we have all had to endure and the current difficulties we all face.

We work hard all year to make this the most fantastic evening possible, so we really do hope you have a great time!

Special thanks go to…

All of our platinum and gold sponsors, without you the RailStaff Awards wouldn’t exist.

To RailwayPeople.com for sponsoring the evening’s VIP drinks reception and photo booth.

COME AND JOIN US Enquiries – enquiries@bttcgroup.com Careers – careers@bttcgroup.com

For donating some wonderful raffle prizes we’d like to thank, Bodyguard Workwear, Broadhead Global, City & Guilds Training (Intertrain), Freightliner, GeoAccess, GTR, ReadyPower, Rhomberg Sersa, TBF, Telent, Train’d Up, Trenitalia c2c Ltd and TSO with all proceeds going directly to the Transport Benevolent Fund CIO. Everyone who nominated or voted for colleagues – our nominees will never forget your actions in recognising their hard work.

All members of the production crew who work tirelessly throughout the year to bring you an amazing night.

All of our entertainers – as always, fantastic!

Staff at the NEC for working tirelessly to help bring the awards to life.

Everyone at Rail Media who has helped out along the way – you know who you are and what you’ve done.

Working with us in 2024 Each year the RailStaff Awards gets better and better and next year will be no exception.

Please call our team on 01530 816 443 or email events@rail-media.com for more information about the sponsorship packages available and to get on the awards sponsorship waiting list.

Photographs and videos* Photographs and video of tonight’s event will be available for you to download from the gallery section of our website: www.railstaffawards.com

Comments We try to give the RailStaff Awards a fun, party atmosphere and we try to improve it every year. We always welcome your feedback, whether it’s good or bad, to help us make this event the best it can be. Please leave your comments on our website: www.railstaffawards.com Thank you,

The Events Team *All media is ©RailMedia 2023. Images and video can be used for personal use only (Credit: RailMedia).

For any commercial use, please contact the Rail Media Team on 01530 816 444.

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