TRICIA Williams, managing direction of train operator Northern, says she is committed to “opening doors” for women in the rail industry.
Speaking ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow (Saturday) she is encouraging women to apply for a wide range of roles which offer “good salaries, a clear purpose and opportunities for progression”.
She said the industry benefits from diversity, as talented individuals from different backgrounds can use their knowledge and experience to tackle complex problems and improve services for passengers.
Tricia joined Northern as the chief operating officer in 2020 and then became managing director last year, meaning she is now only one of three women who run a train operating company in the UK.
“I still find myself counting the number of women in the room because there are so few of us, but hopefully I can show there is a place for women to be successful in business and you can progress and make a difference,” she said. “It’s a massive motivator for me.”
Tricia is now firmly focused on delivering Northern’s ambitious plan to improve performance.
“It’s had some tough times, but I want people to be proud to work for and travel with Northern because we are delivering amazing customer service. That’s all underpinned by performance,” she said.
“Northern has been dealt a poor hand in the past in terms of investment, but we’re now investing in new trains, facilities and our people. We’re also engaging with our colleagues and customers, to build trust and a sense of pride.”
Northern employs more than 7,000 people who work across the North of England. Around 20% of that workforce and 9% of the drivers are female.
Tricia said most of the female conductors, drivers and engineers she speaks to were encouraged to apply after speaking to a friend or family member who has worked in the rail industry.
“It’s male dominated and that puts some women off applying,” she said. “People also see it as old fashioned and I’ve even heard some people say it’s ‘dirty’ as you’ll just be working with diesel trains.
“We have to promote the benefits – like the good salaries, a clear purpose and opportunities for progression – to overcome some of these perceptions.
“As women, we also have to keep getting our stories out there and showing people we’re working in a positive, dynamic and modern environment.
“One of my biggest motivators is to help open doors for women and other people who are underrepresented in the industry.”
Northern has introduced a range of measures in a bid to improve diversity, with gender-balanced panels to make candidates more comfortable during job interviews and retention interviews to find out how woman can be encouraged to continue working for the operator and progress in their careers.
Northern is also running a campaign this month to highlight the contribution of its female workforce and help them feel more comfortable discussing subjects like periods, breastfeeding and menopause at work.
