Today (6 November) we’ve signed the rail industry’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Charter to champion equality, diversity and inclusion in the UK railway industry.
The charter has been launched by the Rail Industry Association and Women in Rail and formally announced at the RIA Annual Conference this afternoon.
I am pleased to see more than 100 organisations across the rail sector including a number of train operating companies, freight companies, Network Rail and the Department for Transport join us in committing to its principles.
Of course, signing the Charter won’t deliver improved diversity and inclusion. But I believe it fits well with our new Diversity and Inclusion strategy and gives us an opportunity to share best practice and learn from what others are doing in the rail sector.
It also signals the importance we attach to the sector’s efforts to make sure its workforce at all levels is representative of the public it serves and that everyone working in the railway feels valued for what they bring and can develop and progress.
I am aware of the energy and enthusiasm of our own colleagues to get moving with delivering our Diversity and Inclusion strategy, and we are close to finalising the appointment of our new D&I manager and we hope they will be in post next month.