UK rail, unless it acts quickly, could soon face a recruitment crisis. With an ageing workforce, around 30% of which is forecast to retire by 2029, the industry needs to find ways of reaching out to new recruits, including people from underrepresented backgrounds.
But with challenge also comes great opportunity. For dynamic professionals looking to make their mark on an industry that plays a vital role in public and economic life, rail has a great deal to offer – particularly for people seeking work in a sector with a public service ethos.
At the same time, it’s clear that the rail industry – still commonly perceived as traditional in its methods of working compared to some other sectors – needs to do more to spruce up its image. So just what are the main incentives to take up a career in rail, and how can the sector change the narrative?
Why choose a career in rail?
Rail offers a diverse range of different career paths, including freight and light rail, to suit people from many different professional and personal backgrounds. These careers can be immensely rewarding and worthwhile. Here are just a few of the main reasons why:
Public service ethos
Not many jobs offer the kind of public service ethos that rail does. The rail industry is central to the way we get to work, socialise and do business with one another, connecting communities across the length and breadth of the country. Working in rail therefore offers a chance to contribute to a vital public service, and do genuinely meaningful work.
Environmental sustainability
Climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy together constitute arguably the greatest challenge of our time. The rail sector has a crucial part to play in this, by encouraging commuters to take the train instead of the car or the plane, and also taking more freight trucks off the roads; the government is targeting growth of at least 75% in rail freight by 2050. A career in rail therefore allows you to play your part in this important shift towards greater sustainability.
Diversity of roles
There are many different careers on offer in the rail industry, from engineering and signalling to marketing and customer service. Whatever your skillset, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a role suited to it in rail. At executive level, too, the industry is very diverse and offers a plethora of leadership-level opportunities.
Career advancement
Employers in the rail industry often actively look to assist employees seeking to progress their careers and rise towards the management and leadership levels; many of the sector’s leaders have worked their way up from the lower echelons of the hierarchy. This makes rail one of the more meritocratic industries in which to work, and an attractive option for ambitious employees.
New challenges
Because the railway network plays such an instrumental role in transporting people and goods, its operations are inevitably complex and challenging. For candidates seeking a role that will test them and get them out of their comfort zone, rail offers a challenging and dynamic working environment.
Opportunities for collaboration
Not only is the rail industry internally diverse in terms of the different career paths it offers, it also provides the opportunity for collaboration with a wide range of different professions and skills. This can be a valuable learning experience, broadening your horizons and presenting opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Attracting dynamic leadership to the rail sector
The UK rail industry stands on the cusp of major change. It’s still early days for the new Labour government, but the railways already appear to be central to its policy agenda.
Labour has pledged to take the bulk of passenger services into government ownership within the next five years, with a new arm’s-length body – Great British Railways – taking over contracts as they expire. However, rolling stock companies (ROSCOs) are set to remain in private hands, while open access operations – along with rail freight – will also continue to have a place in UK rail.
However, the new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has already announced that the Restoring Your Railways fund will be scrapped, though individual projects may still proceed. Labour announced earlier this year that it would not proceed with the next phase of HS2, which would have run between Manchester and Birmingham and was cancelled by former PM Rishi Sunak last October.
To help the sector navigate through this potentially decisive period and meet the challenges with which it is faced, dynamic and talented leadership is a must. This includes attracting candidates who are currently outside the rail industry as well as promoting talent from within it.
Leadership development programmes and opportunities for career progression are likely to prove crucial on the latter count. Employers that invest in professional development and offer clear pathways to leadership roles can make the most of the talent already at their disposal.
A culture of diversity and inclusion, too, can enable organisations within UK rail to bring in talent from a wider range of social backgrounds. When candidates can see that an industry is making a genuine effort to create an inclusive and welcoming work environment, this gives them much greater confidence that they will be able to realise their own potential within it.
UK rail also faces an image problem, with many people still perceiving it to be old-fashioned in terms of its employment practices. Public outreach campaigns, highlighting diverse success stories and demonstrating a commitment to equal opportunities can all help to address this, along with emphasising the vital contributions of rail to communities.
At Intuitive, we specialise in connecting talented, dynamic and diverse leadership candidates with forward-thinking employers in the transport sector – including freight and light rail. Contact our friendly team of experts today and let’s get your career on the right track.
*Information correct at the time of writing – July 2024.
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