This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46169861

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Southeastern and Greater Anglia want more women train drivers Southeastern and Greater Anglia want more women train drivers
(about 3 hours later)
Rail companies have launched campaigns to recruit more women train drivers.Rail companies have launched campaigns to recruit more women train drivers.
Southeastern, which serves London, Kent and East Sussex, says fewer than 5% of its drivers are women and it wants 40% of applicants to be women by 2021. Southeastern, which serves London, Kent and East Sussex, said fewer than 5% of its drivers were women and it wants 40% of applicants to be women by 2021.
Its train services director Ellie Burrows said: "It's no longer the case that little boys play with toy trains and little girls play with dolls."Its train services director Ellie Burrows said: "It's no longer the case that little boys play with toy trains and little girls play with dolls."
Greater Anglia described the railways as "male-dominated" and said fewer than 5% of its train drivers were women.Greater Anglia described the railways as "male-dominated" and said fewer than 5% of its train drivers were women.
The company, which serves the east of England, has launched an internal recruitment campaign and has recently appointed its first female yard controller.The company, which serves the east of England, has launched an internal recruitment campaign and has recently appointed its first female yard controller.
Helen Dickerson is responsible for train movements at its Norwich depot and making sure trains are refuelled and kept up to date with maintenance checks.Helen Dickerson is responsible for train movements at its Norwich depot and making sure trains are refuelled and kept up to date with maintenance checks.
She said: "There are more than 100 men at Crown Point [depot] and I am the only woman working in a front-line engineering role.She said: "There are more than 100 men at Crown Point [depot] and I am the only woman working in a front-line engineering role.
"The job is all about communication and it's great to know you're helping people get to work, school or important appointments every day.""The job is all about communication and it's great to know you're helping people get to work, school or important appointments every day."
Greater Anglia said 22% of its employees were women, which was "something the company is working to address along with the rest of the industry".Greater Anglia said 22% of its employees were women, which was "something the company is working to address along with the rest of the industry".
Initiatives are being introduced by Southeastern to encourage more women to apply for a variety of roles. Southeastern said it had 51 women train drivers and had introduced initiatives to encourage more women to apply for a variety of roles.
They include recruitment open days, mentoring and development programmes for female employees, and a change in recruitment campaigns to reflect diversity.They include recruitment open days, mentoring and development programmes for female employees, and a change in recruitment campaigns to reflect diversity.
At present the company has just 51 women train drivers. Ms Burrows said "society has moved on" and added that railways should not be male-dominated.
Ms Burrows said that "society has moved on" and added that railways should not be male-dominated.
"There are thousands of talented women out there who could have a rewarding career working in roles ranging from engineering to driving, on-board supervising or sales.
"It's vital that as a major transport operator, we have a workforce that reflects the diversity of our passengers.""It's vital that as a major transport operator, we have a workforce that reflects the diversity of our passengers."
A spokesperson for Southern rail said it was "pushing hard to make the industry more attractive to female applicants".A spokesperson for Southern rail said it was "pushing hard to make the industry more attractive to female applicants".
It said 30% of its trainee drivers this year were women, up from 18% in 2017.It said 30% of its trainee drivers this year were women, up from 18% in 2017.
West Midlands Railway said about 10 of its 700 train drivers were women.
But the operator said it had no plans to run a recruitment campaign aimed specifically at women "as we welcome applications from all genders and backgrounds to work for us".
Aslef said train drivers were "predominantly made up of heterosexual white men aged over 35".Aslef said train drivers were "predominantly made up of heterosexual white men aged over 35".
A spokesperson for the train drivers' union said until recently train companies had "proved reluctant to employ many women". A spokesman for the train drivers' union said until recently train companies had "proved reluctant to employ many women".
"We want the rail industry to reflect the society it serves, a society comprised of men and women, regardless of ethnicity, age, sexual orientation or any other ideologies, who each day perform a vital job moving passengers and freight around Britain," the union added. "We want the rail industry to reflect the society it serves, a society comprised of men and women, regardless of ethnicity, age, sexual orientation or any other ideologies, who each day perform a vital job moving passengers and freight around Britain," he added.
Use the form below to send us your questions about this story and we could be in touch.Use the form below to send us your questions about this story and we could be in touch.