The Women in Rail Mentoring Programme

Breaking down bias and challenging prejudice, one mentoring pair at a time

2022 marked the ten-year anniversary of Women in Rail. The organisation looked back at one of its achievements over the last decade – the WR Mentoring Programme and its future aspirations. Since its inception, the charity has become a movement with an ever increasing following and presence. Women in Rail has achieved its core aim of promoting greater diversity and inclusion across the rail sector, with a key focus on the development and progression of females within a predominantly male industry.

Rajinder Pryor MBE, Network Rail Telecoms and Women in Rail board trustee, spoke about her experience of mentoring and the huge impact it had on her: ‘It was back in 2015, I was stuck in my career. I was stuck within myself, and I couldn’t see how to move forward. Mentoring was the magic ingredient added to everything else which got me where I am today.’

Launched in 2014, the programme was initially created with a commitment towards matching female mentees with mentors from different organisations within the rail industry as a nine-month development programme.

The programme has since grown from just twelve mentoring pairs in its first year to 270 pairs in 2018, and in 2019 Women in Rail made the decision to partner with Moving Ahead to take the programme to the next level. This new partnership brought with it a new perspective. Although the programme’s ethos remains centred around promoting and retaining diverse women across the industry, in 2020 the participant criteria was extended to include both female and male mentees.

Whilst women’s development and career progression remain a priority, the programme has manoeuvred itself to establish mentoring as a way for fostering more inclusive workplace cultures through working closely with male allies – both as mentors and mentees.

Women in Rail and the programme is founded on ideals of diversity, equality, and inclusion. In bringing onboard male allies the endeavours for change have had an even wider reach within the industry as with it comes the realisation that men need to be part of the journey alongside women.

Jon Witt of the Rail Delivery Group participated in 2021 and was recognised as Mentor of the Year. Reflecting on his experiences, Jon said: ‘From the very first introductory meeting with my mentee, I immediately felt a strong connection with her – which is testament to the brilliant matching process. As well as sharing some of my own experiences and thoughts, I also learnt a huge amount from the programme. My primary consideration was to always provide some value through our conversations – sometimes this was through a general catch up, but other conversations were more focussed on specific themes such as building confidence, raising one’s profile and exploring new areas of professional interest. The relationship was really collaborative and two-way, and the highest compliment I can pay to my mentee and the programme was that we built a great friendship beyond the end of the programme.’

It comes as no surprise that the programme took its scope even further following the successful addition of male mentees, and as part of its repowered programme has created a charitable ProBono Fund. The purpose of this is to enable women associated with the industry to take part in the programme as a mentee free of charge, opening up spaces to job seekers, women in transition, on care leave, or women from organisations not able to take part in the programme.

The programme continues to attract interest, with seven of the 22 organisations participating in 2022 programme being new. With more organisations coming onboard, it is clear that Women in Rail’s influence is ever expanding, and its shared desire for change is spreading.

The incredible feedback from participants every year is true testament to the success of the programme. Many new organisations have signed up after participants have moved on to different organisations and continued to advocate for the programme.

One such example is Jenny Dempsey from Diamond Rail, who recalled her experience: ‘Having benefited hugely from the Women in Rail programme at the start of my rail career five years ago as a mentee, it was an easy decision to bring my business to the table this year. My mentor introduced me to self-development literature that truly changed my mindset, and I am looking forward to giving back and becoming a mentor myself this year’.

Looking back the achievement of the programme has been incredible. As it continues to develop year on year, and with inspirational speakers including Squiggly Careers co-founder, Helen Tupper, author and disability rights activist, Dr Amit Patel (amongst many more) it is clear that the Women in Rail Mentoring Programme has blossomed.

A great way to mark ten years of Women in Rail and pay tribute to how it’s founder Adeline Ginn has created a sought-after opportunity to help drive change within the rail industry. A special thanks to all the organisations who have and continue to support Women in Rail and its work.

If you’d like to know more about the mentoring programme and how to get involved email WRMentoringTeam@movingahead.org or wr@womeninrail.org.

by Rajander Pryor