Last year Network Rail was actively engaged with Race Equality Week, raising awareness through communications and events internally, as well as supporting some of the Race Equality Matters network’s flagship events externally. They plan to build on this, and get involved with Race Equality Week again in 2022 – their planning starts now.
Andrew Haines, chief executive at Network Rail said – ‘Race Equality Week offers us all an opportunity to reflect on our commitment to building a more open, diverse and inclusive environment, where everyone feels welcome. Through collaboration and real actions, we can continue to promote better equality, diversity and inclusion in the rail industry. Together we can make a big difference. So, I encourage you to get involved in Race Equality week between 7-13 February and let’s turn our words into action.’
Loraine Martins, director of diversity and inclusion at Network Rail said – ‘Race Equality Week allows us to come together across different businesses and sectors and highlight best practice. And we can explore how to successfully address the barriers that black, Asian and minority ethnic employees face. All year, our Race Matters programme has been working on how we recruit, progress and retain more black, Asian and minority ethnic employees. We continue to review our systems, policies and processes too. I am most proud of our Stand Up for Race Equality initiative, where we’ve been leading the rail and transport industry by rolling out mandatory briefings about the links between safety, race and inclusion because we know that more inclusive workplaces are safer ones. We look forward to taking part in Race Equality Week 2022 and actively collaborating with other like-minded companies.’