Hull Trains has been named the Top Employer of the Year at the Women in Rail Awards.
The operator of the city’s direct service to London had its inclusive culture that specifically focuses on female talent attraction and retention recognised. It was praised for the way it fosters a new generation of female leaders in rail, and for the commitment it demonstrates to equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The Women in Rail Awards are seen as the benchmark for the industry and aims to showcase companies making significant contributions to improving gender balance, diversity, and inclusion within the UK railway industry.
Read more: Hull Trains manager recognised as an industry leader for her pandemic dedication
One in three of Hull Trains’ drivers are female, with just 6.5 per cent across the whole industry. Last year saw BusinessLive celebrate Lucy Rahman's move from catering to the best seat on the train as part of Internaional Women's Day.
Alongside this, the company boasts a 50/50 gender split across its executive board, with 48 per cent of its total workforce is female.
Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Hull Trains, said: “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.”
The company has been described as going "from strength to strength" this year following a challenging period during and immediately after the pandemic, bouncing back with award wins at both the Golden Spanner Awards, in recognition of their service reliability, and Hull BID Awards, for showing strength in leadership.
Shona Clive, vice chair of Women in Rail, 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 equality, diversity and inclusion across the sector.”
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