Service Delivery Director Louise Mendham has been recognised for her ‘selfless and outstanding’ contribution to the UK rail industry.

Born in Hull, Louise Mendham is Hull Trains Service Delivery Director and has been recognised for her impressive work with the rail operator and the rail industry as a whole. The National Rail Awards say Louise win the Outstanding Personal Contribution Award (Management) for her tireless dedication in leading the company through the difficulties and extreme challenges created by lockdowns and remobilisation after.

In a unanimous decision, the judges selected Louise for going above and beyond her normal duties, utilising her leadership skills alongside sheer determination to create a lasting difference for team members and the passengers of Hull Trains.

Louise first joined Hull Trains back in 2004 as a frontline member of the planning team from where she rose through the ranks to her current position as Service Delivery Director this month. Credited with inspiring the whole workforce with her dedication, vision and capability to direct the staff through one of the company’s most demanding periods since it began operation.

Louise Mendham said: “Whilst this is labelled as a personal award, it is very much a collaborative effort and none of this would be possible without the dedication and commitment of every member of staff at Hull Trains, on the frontline and in the office. This is a testament to their continued desire to deliver excellence in customer service.

“I also recognise it has been a testing time for our passengers, but I would like to thank the community of Hull and East Yorkshire which has been unwavering in its support for our business. Our customers are what makes the job so special.”

Further to Louise’s impressive strategic and operations leadership skills, she has also been credited for taking an active position in supporting Hull Trains to achieve a 48:52 female-to-male gender ratio, with the rail operator’s 50:50, 64:36 and 82:18 female-to-male ratio in Driver, On-Board Manager and On Board Host grades which has been recognised as a great success for the industry.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Hull Trains, added: “Louise is known by everyone across our company and beyond. She is well respected for her dedication, resilience, and willingness to challenge, and has gone to extraordinary lengths to help get the company on the pathway for a successful recovery following the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns, consistently showing support for the whole team.

“Her selfless and outstanding contribution to the UK rail industry deserves the lasting recognition that this award will bring. I would like to congratulate Louise and the whole team at Hull Trains who supported her in making this possible.”

Part of FirstGroup, Hull Trains is an open-access rail operator and was also shortlisted for awards in three categories at the National Rail Awards and saw the judges impressed in the Outstanding Teamwork and Fleet Achievement Award categories.