“Judging was agonising.” That is how Bonnie Price, National Chair of the Young Rail Professionals (YRP), described this year’s Annual Awards. There were more entries than ever before in the organisation’s 15 year history.
“There was a plethora of railway talent who were all very deserving of these awards and I was blown away by how many people we had nominated,” she said.
The awards ceremony in London was all about shining the light on the youth in the industry and all the hard work they do, the voice they have, and the potential they are and will continue to impact on the industry.
Among the winners were Asher Thomas, who was named Young Rail Professional of the Year; Adam Sergent, the Volunteer of the Year; Mohammed Al-Sharif, Mentor of the Year; George Cullin-Moir, Apprentice of the Year; and Siemens, which was named Employer of the Year.
Bonnie, who will serve a second term as National Chair at YPR, said: “Awards for young professionals are so important and they recognise and motivate individuals for their achievements, and encourage a culture of innovation. It provides key validation, credibility and opportunity for their careers to advance and helps to build confidence and inspire others to strive for success in their respective fields.”
The Annual Awards was also a chance to highlight the achievements of the last year of YRP. These included the relaunch of its North West branch, its busiest Rail Week programme with 32 events across the UK, and its first Santa Express Train taking 180 children who were either living in residential care homes or living with life-limited disabilities.
Bonnie also highlighted that the YRP’s Into Rail programme was the busiest and most successful year yet with 10 schools and fair visits, and its heritage programme delivered more than 1,000 hours of volunteer time on the UK’s heritage railways. Overall YRP has held 105 events in the last year and membership has increased by 32.1 per cent.
“YRP’s success is all down to the volunteers that are in it,” she said. “If YRP’s growing success from a volunteer basis is anything to see what the future of rail is like, which I truly think it is, I think the railway is in really good hands,” she said.
“Looking to the future and we are setting up YRP Ireland and the aim will be to consolidate and continue our position in the industry doing what we do more consistently and more in step with the rest of the industry to work smarter and not harder.”
David Horne, Managing Director of train operator LNER, was a guest speaker at the awards. He said: “The work YRP does in terms of professional networking, development and providing a forum in which you can get people across every bit of the railway industry together to share knowledge is wonderful. Full credit to the team who put all this together on the back of their day jobs.”
Visit https://www.youngrailpro.com/
List of awards
Young Rail Professional of the Year
Asher Thomas, Network Rail
Volunteer of the Year
Adam Sergent, Network Rail
Mentor of the Year
Mohammed Al-Sharif, VolkerFitzpatrick
SME Employer of the Year
Tilt Consulting
Employer of the Year
Siemens
Apprentice of the Year
George Cullin-Moir, Network Rail
Distinguished Service
Gareth Dennis, Systra
Young Rail Personality of the Year
Tom Jerrard, BTTC
