Rail minister joins forces with female staff at Northern for special International Women’s Day message to women across the North of England

Speaking alongside some of the train operator’s leading female staff today, she encouraged women across the North of England to consider forging their own career in the rail industry.

The rail minister, Wendy Morton, said: “I’m very proud to join forces with the women at Northern who are leading the way in championing, attracting and encouraging women into the rail industry.

“Through focussed recruitment campaigns, including school-to-university engagement and shared apprenticeship schemes across the sector, we must continue to demonstrate that the railways offer modern and inclusive career opportunities that are open to all.”

Among those echoing the minister’s words were: Tricia Williams, Northern’s chief operating officer who leads the team responsible for the safe day-to-day operation of Northern’s trains, stations, engineering and control; Emma Yates, the company’s programme director who is responsible for delivering change and modernisation across the company; and Kerry Peters, Northern’s regional director for the north east, who was recently recognised by Northern Power Women on it’s influential ‘Power List’ for their work in the rail industry.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “The rail industry remains overwhelmingly male in terms of its demographic. Of Northern’s 7,000-strong workforce, just over 1,300 of them are female. We need that to change.

“The rail industry is an exciting, challenging and rewarding place for anyone to work – and I hope through positive action we can encourage more women to join us in this industry.”

You can watch their video message here.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Northern is proud to partner with Women in Rail, the industry body created to improve diversity in the UK rail industry. One of its main objectives is devising initiatives aimed at positioning rail as an attractive career choice for young people via its Mentor Scheme, of which Northern is a partner.

Northern operates more than 2,000 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.