Together Weekly 08.03.24

CELEBRATING OUR COLLEAGUES THIS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

This International Women’s Day (IWD), we’re celebrating how far we’ve come in helping to increase the number of women working in the rail industry, but know we’ve still a way to go.

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of colleagues are women, which is a significant increase since 2018, when women represented just 18 per cent of our workforce.

We’ve always been a firm believer in supporting women and we’re proud that almost half (42 per cent) of our station colleagues and more than a third (38 per cent) of senior managers are women –but we want to see this number continue to grow!

CHAMPIONING CHANGE WITH SMART WORKS

We’re joining forces with UK charity Smart Works to help empower women who need support getting into work. Smart Works provides unemployed women with high-quality clothing and one-to-one coaching to help them fulfil their potential.

At TPE, we’ve committed to supporting candidates in the north west get back in to work or start their careers, by guaranteeing to refer job applicants to Smart Works.

This will allow women to access the service and come to interviews with us feeling their most confident and best selves. We also plan to support Smart Works through our volunteering programme, and a clothes drive. We will be looking for volunteers to help sort clothes at the Smart Works warehouse, and to help coordinate a clothes donation event at TPE.

If you’d like to find out more about how you can donate your volunteer days to help at Smart Works, or contribute to a clothing collection event, please register your interest here. We will then contact you once events have been confirmed.

Find out more about the great work taking place at Smart Works

Don’t forget to complete our colleague survey –Express Yourself – by visiting inpulse.com/ey24 or scanning the QR code.

WOMEN AT TPE COME TOGETHER

More than 50 colleagues from across TPE came together for the first Women at TPE social event.

Members met and mingled over food and drinks at the group’s inaugural event on Thursday 7 March – just in time for International Women’s Day.

Following the success and popularity of this event, the group is planning to arrange future networking opportunities, so keep an eye out for more information.

To join our Women at TPE network, email TPEW@tpexpress.co.uk

The group is open to all colleagues who identify as a woman, as well as our male allies

EXERCISE FOR EDUCATION – EMPOWERING WOMEN'S FUTURES

Inspire inclusion this International Women's Day through ActiveHub’s Exercise for Education challenge.

You can help educate young women in Madagascar, Nepal, and Cambodia by completing just 45 minutes of exercise each day for one full week (Friday 8 – Thursday 14 March 2024).

For each day you move, you help United World Schools to give a young girl an education and change the world. By giving a young girl a choice over her own future, you can help break the cycle of poverty, empower future generations, and transform entire communities. Sign up for this life-changing challenge via TPE ActiveHub.

FREE SANITARY WEAR FOR COLLEAGUES LAUNCHES

TPE COLLEAGUES STAR IN NEW WOMEN AND RAIL BOOK

Several of our TPE colleagues are featured in a new book born out of a desire to address the gender imbalance in the rail workforce.

100 more women, 100 more journeys is the sequel to 100 women, 100 journeys, and contains first-person accounts of travel by rail shared by women colleagues and passengers.

Following its success and award for Best Community Engagement Project at the 2021 Community Rail Awards, Community Rail Lancashire has once again brought together inspiring stories that reflect the romance of train travel.

Launching on International Women’s Day, 100 more women, 100 more journeys highlights the important work of Rail to Refuge and Women’s Aid, and is available to read here.

As you flip through the pages, keep an eye out for TPE colleagues Hayley Yates, Tracey Upton, Debbie Easby, and Jill James, who kindly share their rail journey memories and career reflections.

We’re launching our free sanitary wear in the workplace initiative, which aims to support your wellbeing at work.

We understand the feeling of panic if you’re caught short while out and about, and hope having free period products available across the network will be a blessing to those in need.

Products will be environmentally friendly disposables - in line with our sustainability commitment – and will be stocked in both men and women’s facilities..

Look out for baskets featuring the ‘Aunt flow’ sign. Please only take what you need, so there is plenty to go around.

TPE IN CUSTOMERS’ GOOD BOOKS ON WORLD BOOK DAY

Customers were given a treat while travelling on board our services yesterday (Thursday 7 March) as we handed out 1,500 books to celebrate World Book Day.

As part of our Surprise and Delight initiative, we placed the books on seats throughout the carriages on services originating at Manchester Airport, Hull, Cleethorpes and Edinburgh. They contained a TPE branded bookmark which explained more about the initiative.

The Surprise and Delight initiative comes as part of our plan to rebuild our relationship with our customers. Last month, colleagues were out and about on the network handing out goodies for Pancake Day and Valentine’s Day, and TPE branded pop-up pet bowls to mark National Love Your Pet Day.

We will be running more events like this throughout the month, so if you’d like to get involved, please keep an eye out in future comms for further details.