BIG RAIL DIVERSITY CHALLENGE

THURSDAY 7TH JUNE 2018

THE BIG RAIL DIVERSITY CHALLENGE 2018 A FUN EVENT WITH A SERIOUS MESSAGE:

GENDER DIVERSITY

BETTER FOR PEOPLE

BETTER FOR BUSINESS

BETTER FOR RAIL

On Thursday 7 June 2018, Women in Rail held its third annual Big Rail Diversity Challenge and welcomed 570 Industry delegates from across the sector to Peterborough Arena.

A cross between “It’s a Knockout” and “Krypton Factor”, The Big Rail Diversity Challenge provided participants with an opportunity to network, team build and fundraise whilst undertaking fun gender balanced team challenges.

The event has grown by a staggering 75% since its launch just two years ago and has truly captured the hearts and minds of the industry – which demonstrates how serious rail is about improving gender diversity and supporting the brilliant work that Women in Rail undertakes.

Following feedback discussions after last year’s event, challenges were developed to accommodate people with disabilities / special requirements in mind to ensure that the event is as inclusive as possible.

Launched to promote the aims of Women in Rail, The Big Rail Diversity Challenge provides a range of skill-based, physically and mentally demanding challenges from Archery to Escape Room, Laser Quest to inflatable Volleyball, scaling the Twin Peaks to Zumba, Hovercraft skills to mind boggling Quizzes and Surf Simulators to Blindfolded Face Painting – with the aim to show that gender diverse teams work better together.

“The Big Rail Diversity Challenge is an important step in the rail industry agenda. It openly tackles rail’s outdated image, demonstrates that the industry is not afraid to engage both men and women in equal measure and shows our sector’s commitment to improving gender balance and diversity in order to create a more attractive, productive and successful industry,” said Adeline Ginn, founder of Women in Rail.

The event was opened by Malcolm Brown, CEO Angel Trains and board member for Women in Rail London. Malcolm commented: ‘What a truly inspirational event the Big Rail Diversity Challenge is, to see so many colleagues from the industry there, working together, enjoying themselves, I would encourage all organisations and individuals to get involved in this and other Women in Rail events.”

Support came in all forms, with members of the British Transport Police, Royal Air Force, British Army Royal Engineers, and members from rail industry charities, Railway Benefit Fund and Railway Children, providing challenges on the day.

The event closed with a fun award ceremony and acknowledgement was paid to teams who stood out in individual challenges, taking into consideration the highest scores earned, team effort, collaborative working and communication.

BIG RAIL DIVERSITY CHALLENGE 2018 WINNERS

"The Railway Children Street Art Challenge Award"

"Best Team Name Award"

"The Collaborative Teamwork Award"

"The Team of the Year Award"

"Bring on the Beans Award"

2018 EVENT SPONSORS

BIG RAIL DIVERSITY CHALLENGE 2018

  • Company NameTeam NameScore
  • BOMBARDIER/TFLOFF THE RAILS279
  • SCS RAILWAYSSCS – SO CALLED SPARTANS269
  • SCOTRAILTHE SCOTRAIL SUPERSTAR SQUAD263
  • MCGINLEY SUPPORT SERVICESMCGINLEY MAVERICKS259
  • COLAS RAIL UKC.R.U (COLAS RAIL UK)257
  • MORGAN SINDALLHUNTINGDON EAST COASTERS254
  • AMEYRAGS TO SWITCHES253
  • MORGAN SINDALLWERRINGTON EXPRESS250
  • SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAYSOUTHEASTERN JETS249
  • EAST MIDLANDS TRAINSLIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCOMOTIVE248

EVENT TESTIMONIALS

  • The Big Rail Diversity is an amazing event & one I have to fight with colleagues to get a place because we all love taking part, I have met some amazing people on every occasion and the event coordinators are amazing people who go out of their way to make sure every issue is sorted with relative fuss. It’s an absolute honour to be a part of something that not only promotes Equality & Diversity but also promotes being fun at work, as sometimes working in such a serious discipline it’s easy to get bogged down by the pressures, this is a way for us to connect as a team & have that fun we sometimes crave.

    Vikky Goodwin
    VolkerRail
  • It was a fantastic, fun and challenging day. I learnt a lot about myself, what I can achieve with encouragement and sheer determination, even when feeling exhausted.

    Vicky Badham-May, Driver
    MTR Crossrail
  • A really enjoyable day, full of amazing networking and a brilliant diverse mixture of talent from the Rail industry.

    Verity Olive, Project Engineer, Balfour Beatty Rail
    Motion
  • We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to you and everyone who organised the fantastic Big Rail Diversity Challenge. We all had a superb experience. The biggest compliment to you and your team I think was even though I was full of aches and pains on an early shift on the Platform on Friday, when a colleague asked how it went my response was “if I got a call today to do it all again tomorrow, I would be booking my tickets and I think most of my teammates would say the same. So, a HUGE thank you from everyone, I look forward to next year’s event, but think there will be a lot more people volunteering when they here of our experience.” – “As a 55-year-old male I approached the day with caution, but as it went on, I threw myself into every event with the enthusiasm of a teenager. LOVED IT.

    Tony Brindley, Customer Service
    MTR Crossrail
  • The day was fantastic, well organised and good fun I would recommend people take part in next year’s event. A really fun day.

    Tanja Chevalier, Community Engagement Executive Projects and Events
    High Speed Two
  • Loved it!! Laughed all day!

    Sue Moore, PA to Directors
    RSS Infrastructure
  • The best day at ‘work’ you’ll have!

    Stephanie Tyson, Project Manager
    Arup
  • A well-organised event – full of energy.

    Stephanie
    Jacobs
  • Great inclusive event for all.

    Robert Lewis, Project Contracts Manager
    Bombardier
  • The Big Rail Diversity Challenge was an excellent opportunity to meet people from other sectors of the industry in a fun and competitive environment. I’d definitely do it again.

    Rishi Parwani, Research Analyst
    RSSB
  • It was a fantastic event, with lots of enthusiastic teamwork, as well as some healthy competition. The day was an ideal opportunity to connect with colleagues and it was great to see so many companies coming together to celebrate diversity across the railway.

    Natalie Sparrow, Colleague Engagement and Inclusion Manager
    Southeastern Railway
  • A fun packed day with challenges to suit every member of our team. I struck up friendships with new colleagues I hadn’t even met yet, and probably wouldn’t had it not been for this.

    Natalie Adams, Client Account Manager
    SNC Lavalin
  • Great event which was well organised with opportunities to network with a diverse range of people.

    Naomi Blissett, Apprentice
    High Speed Two
  • Fantastic day last week, the event is getting bigger and better every year. Well done to you and the team.

    Maria Clark, Engineer, Amey
    Motion
  • This was our first time putting a team together for the Big Rail Diversity Challenge. We had colleagues from site and office and although a number of us talk to our site staff via phone or email this was the first chance, we got to meet face to face and bond which the day really helped us to do and work as a team and support one another. We all had a fantastic day and can’t wait to do it again! Although inflatable sports are a lot harder that they look!! Thanks for a great day – so well organised!!

    Kimberley McGinty, Skills and Employment Advisor
    The VGC Group
  • I enjoyed the diversity of the tasks and working with people I don’t usually work with in the office.

    Kathryn Wales, Projects Engineer
    Colas Rail
  • Fantastic day out, promoting a brilliant cause. Fun, friendly environment which is a very worthwhile visit

    John Gosney, Graduate Technical Engineer
    Colas Rail
  • A fun day out with work colleagues. A good mix of physical and problem-solving activities, with an overall positive message of promoting diversity in the rail industry.

    Joe Dodgson, Track Design Engineer
    Arup
  • We had 9 people in the team and in a lot of the events, not every member got an opportunity to participate. All of the sporty ones were fine, it is the other ones like safecracker and catapult challenge.

    Irina Smith, Senior Commercial Manager
    Morgan Sindall
  • Great day enjoyed by all promoting a very worthy cause.

    Graham Shaw, Business Development Manager
    VolkerRail
  • Absolutely fabulous event and exceeded every expectation that I had. A great chance to meet new people and honestly couldn’t have had a better day! Bring on next year!

    Grace Hayward, Assistant Project Manager
    Colas Rail
  • It was a tremendous experience and a very productive day with many challenges.

    Geetha Sathi, Electrical Engineer
    Arcadis
  • The Big Rail Diversity Challenge was the one of the best days of my career so far! The teamwork and communication required meant for a brilliant, constructive day with colleagues, as well as it is being extremely fun and a great networking event with all of the other companies in the room. It was absolutely incredible to see such diversity at the event and the value added as a result. A very well run-day and brilliant opportunity which I would encouraging everyone to get involved with!

    Fran Palmer, Business Continuity & HSW Strategy Director
    Skanska, Costain and STRABAG (SCS)
  • I would like to say what a fantastic day we at East Midlands Trains had. We made new friends but most of all we bonded as a team. The event that you put on was fantastic so well planned and organised with the main theme of having fun so well done.

    Darren Field-Thomas, Business Continuity Manager
    East Midlands Trains
  • Team Exciting challenges and great fun, can’t wait for next year!

    Corrine Binks
    Morgan Sindall
  • This was the first time I had the pleasure of attending this event. I have to say it was the most fun I have had in a very long time. We didn’t stop laughing all day. Would recommend this event to all and I am hoping I can get onto it again next year.

    Carla Roberts, Container Control, Pentalver Cannock
    G&W UK/Europe Region
  • It was a tough but fun day. I really enjoyed being part of a diverse team and competing in a fun friendly environment. We were able to win some of the challenges due to great teamwork and diverse skillsets!

    Ashraf Nsubuga
    Young Rail Professionals
  • A fantastic event that allowed all members of our very mixed ability and age team to shine, bond and have fun whilst supporting a very worthy cause.

    James Room, Divisional Manager
    Morson Group