Women urged to seek Network Rail opportunities

25 Jan 2010

Network Rail has launched a campaign to attract more women into the rail sector.

Women taking business and management courses through distance learning may want to apply for positions at Network Rail, which has lunched a campaign to attract more females into the company.

There is a poor male/female balance in the rail industry and chief executive Iain Coucher is determined to change this with the new initiative to be carried out through the company''s award-winning apprenticeship scheme

Since its launch in 2005, applications from women have only reached two per cent and this may be down to "sexist and outdated" public opinions about job opportunities in the sector, the organisation said.

Mr Coucher explained: "The image of the railway as an old-fashioned, heavy industry is not the picture of what I see today.

"I see a modern company, using 21st century technology needing a highly skilled workforce to maintain and deliver a successful and growing railway. We need more exceptional women to join us at Network Rail."

As well as business and management, women can undertake trade and construction courses through distance learning from ICSlearn.

Posted by Caroline Eades