29.10.15
Network Rail boss calls for staff diversification after 40% boost to graduate recruitment
Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne has demanded that the organisation recruit a more diverse workforce after it announced an increase of 40% in the number of engineering places on its 2016 graduation scheme.
Following today’s recruitment boost, Carne said to his 35,000-strong workforce: “I am proud that we have increased the number of women joining our graduate programme to 29% in the last year and to 28% from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, but we have to accelerate that growth so that it better reflects the society in which we live and serve.
“We need the very best talent on offer to help deliver our Railway Upgrade Plan and transform our railway to carry the ever-increasing number of people who choose to travel by rail safely, efficiently and comfortable.
“That means not missing out on bringing the best engineers – both men and women and all ethnicities – to Network Rail.”
His message comes ahead of Tomorrow’s Engineering Week (2 to 6 November) designed to change current perceptions of engineering amongst young people.
As part of the recruitment boost, graduates can now apply for around 150 places on next year’s programme, including 80 places across the three disciplines of mechanical, electrical and civil engineering.
Other places are split across general management, finance, property, project management, business technology, supply chain and human resources.
The move is also part of a wider effort to increase the talent pool of female engineers – including by giving teenage girls career advice on working on the railways, running opening evenings at training centres targeted at women, rolling out a work experience scheme and working with campaign group Women in Science, Technology and Engineering.