MORE JOBS FOR THE GIRLS, SAYS RAIL CHIEF
Thursday 21 Jan 2010 09:00
Sexist and outdated public perceptions about job opportunities for women in the rail industry are a damaging barrier to building a bigger and better railway Britain needs, according to Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher.
Network Rail today launches a campaign to attract more talented women to the company, further improving the overall skills of the workforce and addressing the poor male/female balance. It will begin by aiming to attract more women to its award winning apprenticeship scheme, which since its inception in 2005 has received only around 2% of applications from women.
Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail said: "The image of the railway as an old-fashioned, heavy industry is not the picture of what I see today. I see a modern company, using 21st century technology needing a highly skilled workforce to maintain and deliver a successful and growing railway. We need more exceptional women to join us at Network Rail. I'm sure that they are being put off by an outdated image of what we do and what we need. This is a scandalous waste.
"All of us; industry, educators and government, must work harder to promote the fantastic career opportunities open to both men and women in the rail industry and engineering as a whole. If not, Britain will miss out on leading the world in this field."
Daryl Levison, 20, from Ilford in east London joined Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme in 2007. Now in her final year, Daryl is based at Network Rail’s Witham depot where she is specialising in signalling. “When I went out on the track for the first time, I realised that this is a place where I can fit in and work in a team,” said Daryl. "At first working with lots of guys was a little difficult but within weeks it was like there was no difference at all.
"I really enjoy learning something new most days and that I am going to have job security even after I finish the apprenticeship. The skills that I am learning on this scheme are also transferable. I know that if I wanted to, these skills would help me in lots of different jobs within Network Rail, and that’s really valuable."
In a recent GlideInsight survey for Network Rail, when asked who a career in railway engineering best suited, 47% of those polled said mainly or only men. When asked if enough was done in schools to promote a career to women in this area, 45% said unequivocally no, with nearly half agreeing that not enough is done.
Notes to Editors:
Network Rail statistics
- 12.7% of Network Rail’s workforce is female (source: corporate responsibility report 2009)
- Job applicants: In 2008/9 only 17% of external applicants were from women. (although a further 12% refused to disclose their sex)
- In 2009, only 8% of applications to our graduate scheme for engineering functions were from women. This rises to 26% for other functions including commercial property, finance, customer services.
- In 2009, only 19% of applications to the Network Rail MSc programme in project management run in conjunction with UCL and University of Warwick were from women.
- Applications to the Network Rail Advanced Apprentice Scheme since 2005 average at 2%. The overall intake is just 4.4%.
Education in general
- Only 13% of those studying engineering and technology degrees were women (source: The Recruiters Guide to Courses & Campuses 2009/10 – citing Higher Education Statistics Agency).
- Women achieved better grades at graduate level than men gaining 56% of first class degrees and 61% of 2:1 class degrees.
The Campaign
Network Rail will target its recruitment advertising to attract more female applicants. Actual female employees will appear in adverts to act as case studies with media buying focused specifically on publications and websites with a high female readership.
Schools with all-female students will be targeted with recruitment materials
In house HR teams will ‘recruit’ current female employees to visit career fairs and events to talk of their experiences.
A revamped Network Rail website for its apprentice scheme will include video blogs and profiles of current female apprentices, sharing their experience. See: http://careers.networkrail.co.uk/apprentices
A media and public affairs programme of activity to highlight the opportunities available will support this programme.
GlideInsight is a market research tool provided by Glide Technologies. It works with a leading panel research provider that supplies market research to companies like TNS, Ipsos Mori and GFK.
This partnership allows us to deliver statistically valid, nationally representative market research. See: http://www.glidetechnologies.com/pr-products/glide-pr/glide-insight.aspx?utm_source=glide_launch_client&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=glide_client&utm_content=find_out_more_button
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About Network RailNetwork Rail is the 'not for dividend' owner and operator of Britain's railway infrastructure, which includes the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations - the largest of which we also manage We aim to provide a safe, reliable and efficient rail infrastructure for freight and passenger trains to use Our website:
www.networkrail.co.uk