Hull Trains has won a top award, reflecting that its statistics as an employer of women are the best in what remains a male-dominated industry.

Three important facts are that Hull Trains has:

• the highest percentage of women train drivers in the UK rail industry: 32% of Hull Trains drivers are female, compared with an industry average in 2021 of 6.5%
• a 50/50 gender split across its executive board
• a workforce that is 48% female.

Following its 2022/23 survey of its workforce, the open-access operator also has an overall ‘engagement’ score of 83%, which is sixteen points above the industry average.

The company took part in the #EmbraceEquity initiative on International Women’s Day this year.

In recognition of this, and of what is seen as the operator’s inclusive culture that specifically focuses on recruiting and retaining female employees, Hull Trains was named Top Employer of the Year at last night’s Women in Rail Awards. These awards are considered to be the benchmark for the railway industry, and aim to showcase companies that make significant contributions to improving gender balance, diversity and inclusion.

The company was praised for fostering a new generation of female leaders in rail, and for demonstrating a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Hull Trains found out that it had been shortlisted in March, and received its winner’s trophy at last night’s ceremony in London. This following its success at both the Golden Spanner Awards, in recognition of its service reliability, and Hull BID (Business Improvement District) Awards, for showing strength in leadership.

The company believes that it “has gone from strength to strength this year following a challenging period during and immediately after the pandemic”.

Shona Clive, Vice-Chair of Women in Rail and Project Lead for the Rail cluster project and the Forth and Tay Offshore project, Scottish Engineering said: “The calibre of this year’s nominations was truly exceptional. We received over 430 entries from – and in respect of – a wide range of individuals, teams and companies in the railway sector, many of them from male allies nominating their female co-workers. The judges admitted having a very difficult task selecting who should be shortlisted and ultimately win. Congratulations to everyone who was nominated – and of course to our winners, Hull Trains – who continue to promote and improve EDI across the sector.”

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Hull Trains, explained: “We’re extremely proud to be recognised as Top Employer at the Women in Rail awards. This recognition feels like a seal of approval for the work we’re doing to create an inclusive and diverse work environment.

“Just to be shortlisted and recognised for our efforts was amazing, but to win is a really special accomplishment and our team is without a doubt at the heart of this success.”