Rail chief to get more girls onboard

22/01/2010

Women are being encouraged to join the railway industry in a new campaign launched by Network Rail.

Chief executive Iain Coucher is hoping to attract more females to the company which currently has a poor male to female ratio.

Despite launching an award-winning apprenticeship scheme in 2005, only two per cent of those who applied were women.

"The image of the railway as an old-fashioned, heavy industry is not the picture I see today," said Mr Coucher.

"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."

He added that he believed females were being put off applying for roles at Network Rail because of an "outdated image of what we do and what we need" and that this was "a scandalous waste".

Just 12.7 per cent of Network Rail's workforce is female and in
2008/09 only 17 per cent of external applicants were from women.

Meanwhile, bosses in France are being forced to retain 40 per cent of boardroom posts for business women.

In an attempt to allow more women in business to break through the glass ceiling, companies will have three years to ensure that 20 per cent of their board is made up of women, and they will have to reach the 40 per cent level in six years.

The new French measure is likely to become law within the next few months and be closely monitored by UK policymakers.

What do you think? Fancy a job on the rails? Let us know

Want to find you what the Forward Ladies think? Have a look in the forum