Celebrating International Women’s Day with Sam Rayment and Sophie Morris.
Tuesday 8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD) which celebrates the achievements of women across the world with the aim of accelerating equality in workplaces.
That IWD we caught up with Head of Control, Sam Rayment, and Head of Customer Experience, Sophie Morris, to help spread the message on how women from any background can (and should) feel empowered to join the rail industry.
Careers background
Sam, 32, has been with West Midlands Railway since 2015 and has worked in the rail industry for 11 years. Having started her career working for airlines, Sam has always had an interest in moving people, as well as planning, community, and the environment – so, it’s no surprise that the rail industry ticked all of her boxes.
“I’m not a trainspotter, but I have grown to love this industry and everything that goes along with it” she says.
Sophie, 34, started in the recruitment department, having worked in the industry since graduating. Sophie first got into rail when she worked for the British Transport Police, moving to West Midlands Railway in 2015.
Since then, Sophie has undertaken several secondments, working and learning as she goes. “I was encouraged to apply for a secondment as a Station Duty Manager by a lady I really admired, despite having never done it before. But it was the best thing I ever did and has led me to where I am now,” she says.
Although their roles are different, both Sam and Sophie ultimately work towards the same goal as all of our teams at West Midlands Railway - to ensure our customers are at the heart of everything we do.
Railway roles
Sam oversees any disruption that may occur on the railway such as adverse weather, issues with trains or infrastructure problems, helping passengers who may be stranded with alternatives and working to get the timetable back to normal.
Sophie uses customer feedback and data to help improve the service as well as keeping customers informed of West Midlands Railway's performance.
Over the last two years, the railway industry, like so many others, has faced unprecedented challenges. And although this has brought a lot of uncertainty, Sophie says: “It’s really tested the resilience of the business and the industry and made it stronger.” Sam agrees, stating that “the pandemic and the challenges it brought has enabled the business to be better built for disruption, which is reflected in customer satisfaction.”
The Q&A
With both their jobs pivotal to West Midlands Railway and being such key figures in what is still considered by some to be a male-dominated industry, Sam and Sophie have shared insights on working in rail, the highs, and the lows, and why they chose a career in the railway.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced during your time at West Midlands Railway?
Sam: “The pandemic has changed the whole landscape of travel. When it first hit, back in 2020, it was something none of us had ever experienced before, and as such, the whole industry came to a standstill. However, we gradually learned what needed to be done in order to keep key workers – and those who relied on the trains – moving. It was very important to us that we worked hard to ensure we supported those who needed it the most.”
Sophie: “On a personal level, I really struggled with my confidence and struggled with imposter syndrome, questioning myself whether I can do certain jobs or tasks, and that was difficult. I think that comes from having done a couple of shorter-term secondments, so haven’t spent a long period in one role. On the flip side, this has its benefits and has helped me grow my confidence so much over the past 12 months.”
What about some of the highs at West Midlands Railway?
Sam: “I have loved seeing how the control function at West Midlands Railway has flourished over the last few years. There have been so many changes that none of us could have predicted or helped, but as a team we have taken it all in our stride and continued to improve – both personally and professionally. And I’ve loved being the one to give good feedback, promote and encourage colleagues in their work.”
Sophie: “The resilience the whole company has developed has been nothing short of outstanding. In such devastating times, we have achieved so much as a company and come so far, and it’s been amazing to witness and be part of that. I’m really proud to work for West Midlands Railway.”
Have you ever felt at a disadvantage in your career due to being a woman?
Sam: “There have been a couple of times – but it usually comes from me. For example, earlier in my career, I did feel at a disadvantage stepping forward for opportunities and building relationships, but as I’ve progressed that has changed. I also think the way the world as a whole has changed has definitely helped – for example changing the language that is used by society and altering what is acceptable.”
Sophie: “I’ve never felt at a disadvantage to be honest, but I feel this may come from having once worked for the British Transport Police, which was a male-dominated area, so I feel I’ve probably developed an unconscious resilience to anything like that. Of course, I’m aware of and conscious of the gender pay gap and other workplace statistics but I’ve always prided myself on working hard, and I feel I’ve been rewarded for that.”
Have you ever felt at an advantage in your career due to being a woman?
Sam: “From the other women around me, yes. There’s a real network of women in the rail industry who help support one another and are advocates for change, which in turn, helps other women flourish and lead from the front.”
Sophie: “I believe I have an unconscious resilience, and that could come from being a woman – specifically in a traditionally male-dominated industry. However, I feel I have been very lucky not to have experienced any specific disadvantages, so equally haven’t felt at a particular advantage, either.
How has West Midlands Railway supported you?
Sam: “In terms of general support, there’s Women in Rail which is for UK-wide employees in the industry. However, I was set up with a female coach who is a senior leader in another industry and has helped me incredibly when it comes to stepping up into a ‘head of’ role; from helping me navigate meetings and stepping into decision-making environments- she’s helped me build my confidence immensely.”
Sophie: “For me, support has been less formal, but no less impactful. Whenever I moved in a more senior role, I was given lots of support, advice, and guidance – some asked for and some given off the cuff, but it has always been given welcomely and received with open arms, too. Also, it’s been great to receive a couple of industry award nominations, which has not only given me some recognition but also provided support and reassurance that I’m doing a good job in times of doubt.
“There’s also an emphasis at West Midlands Railway in making sure everyone knows that the opportunities are open to everyone in the business, and they have really encouraged people to move out of their comfort zone.”
How would you like to see the working world change for women?
Sam: “On a simple level, I’d like to see a focus on unconscious bias and rewards for resilience and performing well – regardless of gender, age, etc.
“Historically, and in particular over the last few years, women have been more likely to make sacrifices when it comes to looking after children or caring for family members. The working world needs to be more welcoming for parents as a whole, which will primarily support women. Things such as advanced maternity leave, part-time roles and job shares, flexible working, holidays, and other programmes are key. It’s a case of recognising overall and individual circumstances and giving employees the space to make the workplace fit around them, in order to ensure they’re as attractive to women as possible.”
Sophie: “For me, the biggest thing is ensuring women aren’t missing out on opportunities because they may be working from home more than men due to family commitments such as caring for children. There’s been a couple of articles recently about how hybrid working could negatively impact mums more than fathers, but I’d really like companies everywhere to take the stance of ‘look at the amazing talent you could be missing out on’. At the end of the day, it shouldn’t be a choice between families and careers, and in the past, women have borne the brunt of that. So, I’d like to see us continue to push for equal opportunities for men and women – regardless of their situation.”
What advice would you give to women wanting to get started in trains?
Sam: “Just do it! Don’t question it if you’re drawn to the industry; it’s changed a lot over the years and come a long way – there are plenty of women working in the rail industry in a whole host of different disciplines. So don’t let stereotypes and traditions stop you if you want a career in rail – you won’t regret it.”
Sophie: “Go for it and don’t waste time doubting yourself. I’ve wasted so much time wondering if I’m capable in the past, but the best way to overcome that is to throw yourself into it and you’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of! The rail industry, in my opinion, is one of the best there is, and as Sam said, it’s changed so much over the years, and this is reflected in the kinds of people we’re looking to join.”
How you can start a career on the railway.
To find out more about the type of careers you can do on the railway, check out our careers webpage . Alternatively, you can sign up for job alerts over on our owning company, Abellio.