2026 supporting organisations

Campaign for Better Transport is the national charity working across England and Wales to make transport better, greener and fairer. We have been campaigning since 1973 to improve transport, tackle climate change and create a more inclusive society. Our vision is for all communities to have access to high quality, sustainable transport that meets their needs, improves quality of life and helps protect the environment.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers provides life-long learning opportunities for over 110,000 members, many of whom will achieve professionally registered status.

NSAR was established in 2010 by the rail industry as a non-for-profit membership organisation. We have an expert team of consultants that support our membership organisations and clients on a range of projects across the rail industry and other sectors.

The Rail Forum is a national industry body with strong regional connections, based at the heart of one of the largest clusters of rail companies in the world.

As an industry-wide Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion forum, Rail Unites for Inclusion (RUI) is committed to fostering a healthier and more inclusive railway which is reflective of the customers and communities so that we can better serve them.

For over 165 years, we have offered a helping hand to the people behind the UK’s railways and their families when life throws up the most difficult challenges – such as illness, injury or financial hardship.

Railway Children fight for vulnerable children who live alone at risk on the streets, where they suffer abuse and exploitation. In the UK, society often denies their existence, and in other countries, the problem is so prevalent that it has become normal.

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) champions a dynamic UK rail supply sector. Rail contributes £41 billion in economic value and £14 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as supporting over 640,000 jobs throughout the UK. For every job in rail, a further four jobs are supported elsewhere in the UK economy, and every job in the rail supply chain is 29% more productive than the UK average. RIA's 450+ members, including 60% SMEs, provide a diverse range of rail products and services. RIA advocates for rail's critical role in economic development, sustainability, and high-performance transport. Learn more at www.riagb.org.uk

Routes into Rail is a sector initiative that provides a single source of advice and information on careers offered in the rail industry. It aims to inspire and educate a new generation of talent – providing information to people of all ages on the variety of entry pathways available and showcasing, through multimedia content, that rail has a job and a career for everyone.