Meet the team ⇩
Our network's vision ⇩
What is Social Mobility? ⇩
watch the launch ⇩
Be a member
Sponsor's welcome ⇩
Beyond Barriers

Introducing: Beyond Barriers

a rail industry social mobility network  

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📣We have vacancies in our leadership team 📣

Apply now for Co-Chair and Deputy Chair positions!

Applications open until 5pm on 1st October

(please note, the original deadline of 17th September has been extended by two weeks) 

Apply now
The role at a glance
What you need to know

Want to know more?
Check out the role details and election process using the links above, and see how you can get involved and make an impact.

Got questions?
Feel free to reach out to us at EDI@networkrail.co.uk.

A welcome from our sponsor, Sir Andrew Haines OBE

Andrew Haines: Moving beyond barriers in the rail industry

View the video transcript

Our vision

1.

Raise Awareness

  • Collaborating within our sector to listen, learn, present, share, and work together to support social mobility.

  • Attending industry-specific events designed to advocate, inform and drive positive change for people from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

  • Promoting activities such as early outreach initiatives, supporting existing diversity networks and overall diversity strategy.

2.

Create a safe space

  • Providing a forum for people from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds to share their experiences.

  • Creating a network of friendly colleagues that have shared experiences and can support each other with overcoming barriers they might face in the workplace.

  • Celebrating the value that a diverse socio-economic employee base brings to the industry.

3.

Advocate for change

  • Representing the needs of our members to provide a collective voice and positively influence the removal of systemic barriers to social mobility.

  • Contributing to the development of relevant policies and processes to ensure they are inclusive to people from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

  • Vocalising the importance of providing openness and transparency of socio-economic background, and the economic value recruiting, retaining and promoting those from less advantaged backgrounds can bring to organisations and the wider economy.

Meet the leadership team

image.

David Boot (Co-Chair)

Head of Public Affairs

LNER

image.

Elena González (Co-Chair)

Sustainability Strategy Manager

Network Rail

image.

Jyoti Jassi (Co-Chair)

Business Manager

Network Rail

image.

Raye Fullard (Deputy Chair)

Diversity and Inclusion Manager

Rail Delivery Group (RDG)

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Tom Hall (Deputy Chair)

Sustainable Development Lead

Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB)

Catch up: Beyond Barriers online launch, 4 March 2025

Beyond Barriers - Rail Industry Social Mobility Network - online launch 04.03.25

"But what is social mobility and why does it matter?"

In simple terms, social mobility is about making sure that everyone has the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of where they start in life.

By improving social mobility, we can create a more inclusive and fairer workplace where everyone gets the chance to progress.

Socio-economic background.

A persons ‘socio-economic background’ is about the social and economic conditions that person grew up in, such as education and family occupation.

Social mobility at work.

'Social mobility' is about breaking down barriers that can make it harder for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to move up the career ladder. 

Many people from lower socio-economic backgrounds don’t always see a clear way forward in their careers. We want to challenge that conception by:

  • Finding common ground across the industry.

  • Opening doors for people from different backgrounds.

  • Creating real pathways for career progression.

  • Breaking down barriers that have made it harder for certain groups to get ahead.

By better understanding the challenges you face, we can make the rail industry more inclusive and ensure everyone has the same shot at success.

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