TransPennine Express (TPE) is marking International Women’s Day tomorrow, Wednesday, 8th March, by highlighting some of its incredible women employees and encouraging others to join the rail industry.

Over the last year, the company has continued to embrace equality and break the perception that the rail industry is male-dominated, with women accounting for 27 per cent of its new employees and 31 per cent of its internal promotions.

To mark International Women’s Day, TransPennine Express has released a video that highlights some of the women from across its business leading the way, including Human Resources Director Nicola Buckley, Head of On-Board Services Alison Murray, Fleet Support Engineer Alice Callaghan, and frontline colleagues Kate Holmes who is a conductor) and trainee driver Joanna Collins.

At last week’s prestigious Rail Business Awards ceremony, TransPennine Express came away with the Diversity & Inclusion in Rail award, which recognised some of the incredible schemes and programmes the company has available, especially to women.

To promote the professional development of women, the company has Step Up and Step Forward programmes, whilst its Reach Up and Reach Forward programmes focus on the company’s continued commitment towards helping under-represented groups to reach management roles.

TransPennine Express has also increased its development opportunities with two new offerings with a Women in Rail Mentoring Programme and a Senior Women’s Development Programme.

Nicola Buckley, Human Resources Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We’re extremely proud of the women working throughout our business and we’re encouraging more to join the railway industry by offering a diverse range of opportunities, from apprenticeships to frontline roles and management positions.

“We’re delighted that 41 per cent of our directors are women and 37 per cent of our senior management team are women, but there’s still more work to be done. We’re delighted to be celebrating International Women’s Day and proud to be able to shine a light on some of the fantastic women leading the way in the rail industry.”

“It’s simple, the women who work for us are a leading light in the industry and we want more to join the incredible team we have here. The rail industry is changing and we want women to be a part of that change.”

Georgie Young, Regional Customer Experience Manager at TransPennine Express, who joined the operator 22 years ago, said: “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it, and so it’s important that we show off the incredible talent we have on board. It’s even more important for us to encourage women, especially young women, to join the industry as we could be missing out on a wealth of expertise and skills.”

Joanna Collins, a trainee driver for TransPennine Express, is hoping she can be one who breaks the status quo when it comes to train drivers: “My dad, two of my great-grandads and my great-great grandad were all drivers, and I’m the first woman in the family to follow in their footsteps. I broke the mould in my family and I’m hoping we can do the same throughout the industry.

“In my depot, I will be the second woman driver in a group of 25. When it comes to trains, there’s no gender bias and I’m hoping that I, along with my co-workers, can inspire more women to become drivers.”

Alison Murray, Head of On-Board Services, said: “There is a belief when it comes to the railway that it’s a male-dominated environment, that is changing. I would say to any woman, please have no fear.

“There are so many options within the industry and so many journeys women can take. We want to educate every woman who may be interested in joining the railway that the opportunities are here for you.”

For further information about careers and job vacancies at TransPennine Express, go to  https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/about-us/careers