Thousands of rail jobs available as sector looks to inject more women into workforce

Thousands of West Midlands railway jobs are up for grabs as the sector searches for more women to get involved.

The National Infrastructure Solution (NIS) a provider of rail-related training, is working alongside the City of Wolverhampton College and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to help change perceptions and to highlight the vast array of roles available across the rail industry.

As well as many positions available on worksites across the country, there is also a diverse range of ‘off track’ careers, such as office roles, project management, health and safety and digital marketing,

Part of the recruitment drive is providing flexible training courses with start and end times that fit around paternal activities and educating employers on creating work conditions and shift times that are more accessible to women.

Davie Carns, the managing director of NIS said: “With major infrastructure projects, including HS2 and the Midland Metro Extension well underway, there has never been a better time for a more inclusive workforce.

“If you take the total rail workforce in the UK, only 14% are women – a stunning stat that we need to change,

“It’s not just about digging holes on track, there’s so many different opportunities for women looking for a career change or those entering or re-entering the workplace.”

Supported by the WMCA, new recruits benefit from a dedicated rail training centre at Wolverhampton College’s Wellington Road Campus in Bilston. This is equipped with installation and maintenance equipment and a standard rail track to support courses on conventional, high speed and light rail lines.

The facility is also the first in the UK to offer training on slab track systems used in the construction of high-speed rail lines, such as HS2.

Louise Fall, deputy principal at the City of Wolverhampton College said: “The biggest barrier is changing perceptions and proving to women that it’s not just an industry for men.

“Where we can really help is by working with NIS to make sure all levels of courses are accessible to female learners, whether that is a mix of online and on-site training or something as simple as putting training sessions at different times to avoid family commitments.

“That’s the simple bit. There is also a piece of work we need to do with employers to ensure they are offering the same flexibility when it comes to actual jobs. There is no point training women for positions where barriers to access the industry still exist.”

Clare Boden-Hatton, director of employment & skills delivery at WMCA said that, “the relationship between National Infrastructure Solutions and City of Wolverhampton College is a fantastic model we’d like to use for other sectors and areas in the West Midlands.

“Our region is at the epicentre of the sector’s development with lots of exciting projects taking place. We want to bring in exciting new talent to make sure they are delivered on time and women – with the vast skills they possess – can make a real difference to the industry.”

With 50% of NIS’ 16-strong office staff now female Carns concluded that, “it’s important our business represents the society in which we live in and its equally important that everyone, regardless of gender, is given the opportunity to work and succeed within the rail industry.”