With large projects such as Crossrail and HS2, employment opportunities in UK rail are booming, yet the industry is facing a real challenge – a skills shortage and a lack of diversity which threatens the growth of the sector.

To bridge the current skills gap and secure a better future for rail, it is crucial to promote the industry as an exciting career option, to redress the gender balance and fill our ever growing pipeline with the best and most diverse talent.

A Women in Rail survey revealed that just 16.4% of the total UK rail workforce are women, an issue that the charity is working to redress, alongside major stakeholders in the industry, by:

  • Establishing a robust networking platform for women and men in our sector
  • Providing strong support through regional development workshops and a cross-industry mentoring programme
  • Devising initiatives positioning rail as an attractive career choice for women and young girls
  • Engaging with key stakeholders to promote diversity as a business strategy
  • Showcasing role models and the business benefits of gender balance

In the past year, Women in Rail has:

  • Campaigned to attract women and young graduates in UK rail, through reports, showcasing role models and the range of roles the sector has to offer
  • Held a number of networking events and development workshops across the UK through its regional groups (self-confidence, networking skills, flexible working, unconscious bias etc)
  • Successfully partnered with c.250 mentors and mentees as part of the Women in Rail cross-industry mentoring programme
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To support us and help us to work towards our goal, please email Women in Rail on wr@womeninrail.org

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