This Black History Month, our film underscores the importance of sharing Black history and inspiring the next generation of rail workers.
Change the Game features 10 railway employees, from apprentices to senior engineers, and discusses the impact understanding Black history can have on the railway.
“It helps shape perceptions and it helps shape attitudes, behaviours towards Black people and towards other people of other races.” – Tonye Altraide, commercial scheme sponsor
“It’s extremely important that I’m in tune with my identity.” – Reinold Aryee, talent acquisition manager
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Watch Change the Game:
“This is a career that is limitless.” – Keneefia Parker, apprentice
“I wake up in the morning and I have the passion to go to work.” – Adelaja Aladejobi, apprentice
“It’s a pivotal time to be in engineering.” – Chloe Barnett, data manager
“Have no fear and just go for it.” – Adedayo Akeredolu, graduate
A diverse workforce for a diverse railway
The railway is a huge employer – and it touches people’s lives all over Britain.
Tonye Altraide, a commercial scheme sponsor, says: “We have trains going to every part of the country so the essence of the railway is about diversity.”
Encouraging more people from diverse backgrounds will lead to more innovative thinking and a railway that is “a lot more like the people it serves,” says Tonye.
It’s essential we become a more open, diverse and inclusive organisation, harnessing the skills and expertise of all our people and attracting the best talent to help us have a safe, accessible railway for everyone.
We will continue to provide an environment that helps everyone to be the best that they can be. The differences between us are what add depth, strength and creativity to our work. They allow individuals and teams to harness their talent and capabilities and help improve our railway.
We aspire to make the best use of our people’s talent and capabilities and to provide real opportunities for their professional development.
There is more to do – but the success of our work on diversity and inclusion, and the excitement of being part of the biggest transformation of Britain’s rail industry in history, are starting to make the railway a choice career path.
Black History Month is an opportunity to build on this work – and an important part of educating colleagues about the positive role of Black people in our history and culture.
Cultural Fusion, our Black, Asian and minority ethnic employee network, is marking Black History Month with events throughout October, centering on arts, culture, music and science. It’s set its own theme for colleagues: evolution of the Black experience – Black history is everyone’s history.
Inspiring the next generation
Keneefia Parker, an engineering apprentice, hopes to inspire others to follow achieve their career ambitions.
She says: “This is a career that is limitless in terms of where you wanna go and where you wanna be.”
Olivia Woodward, a finance graduate, says to young people: “You can be that role model for people in the future.”
Chloe Barnett, a data manager with a background in engineering, is passionate about leading others and encouraging all children to explore science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Career opportunities everywhere
We have locations across Britain and a huge range of disciplines at all levels. Huge investment in rail infrastructure, advances in engineering and technology, and world-class training mean now is the best time to embark on a career on the railway.
Our apprenticeships programme gives newcomers three career-advancing years that offer far more than an education. Find out about earning while you learn, qualifications and becoming part of the next generation of engineers.
Our standout graduate and placement schemes provide boundless opportunities.
Our huge and vital operational function delivers the services that ensure safe performance of the railway, including managing the systems and processes that keep the rail network working. Their work encompasses:
- Signalling operators in our regional Rail Operating Centres
- Mobile operations managers and incident response teams that help reopen any part of the network that’s blocked
- Level crossing managers and station customer service teams
- Infrastructure maintenance.
Read more
Diversity and inclusion at Network Rail
