Breaking The Glass Ceiling: LNER Inspires Women Into Rail

(L-R): Caroline Schofield, Olivia Mouter, Clare Caddick, Melike Dila Karatas.

LNER has cemented its commitment to inspiring inclusion in the rail industry, highlighting opportunities for female colleagues to break the glass ceiling when it comes to their career. 

Colleagues from across the business are sharing their stories ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2024, in the hope of inspiring even more women to consider a career in rail.  

Train Driver Clare Caddick, Melike Karatas, a Senior Data Scientist, Caroline Schofield who is working to make rail even more accessible, and Olivia Mouter, who leads on environmental partnerships, have seen their careers go from strength to strength since they joined LNER. They enjoyed a rooftop station tour, high above its glass ceilings, a representation of some of the challenges that have been overcome in the journey towards inclusivity and equality.  

Data from LNER shows it is on track to meet its ambition of 45 per cent overall female representation by 2025, with the number of women in the business rising to 43.3 per cent over the last year. Meanwhile, the number of women promoted from within has also risen, accounting for 45.3 per cent of all promotions, compared with 40.4 per cent previously.

Claire Ansley, People and Customer Experience Director at LNER, said “Our people are fundamental to our success. We recognise that fostering an inclusive culture and having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve are key and we are proud to be launching the Women@LNER network on International Women’s Day. 

“We are committed to reaching our ambitions of 45 per cent female representation by 2025 and the data we are sharing shows the promising steps we are taking towards achieving this; however, we know there is still work to do.  

“From data science roles to train driving, our colleagues at LNER show how they inspire inclusion when they come to work every day. There are so many opportunities in rail, and we want to encourage even more women to join the industry.” 

LNER has also seen a 60 per cent rise in women applying for roles during 2023 compared with the year before. 

Melike Dila Karatas joined LNER as a Senior Data Scientist eight months ago and is responsible for machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions to crucial rail projects, including understanding customer behaviour: “Women play a crucial role in the field of data science and AI, allowing for diverse perspectives and skills that contribute to the overall success and impact of the field. 

“When I told some of my family and friends that I was joining the railway, it was initially met with some surprise. Some of those reactions influenced my decision to join the company, helping to change perceptions and expectations.” 

LNER is also on track to meet its ambition of having a higher number of female train drivers, with a target of 15 per cent by 2025. Female representation current stands at 13.2 per cent, having risen from 11.7 per cent in 2022/23. 

Train Driver, Clare Caddick has been with LNER for 10 years and joined the driving team nearly four years ago: “At the time I took the driver’s role, I remember there weren’t as many women doing it. It’s a big responsibility and I believed that I could handle it, so I went for it. There’s a way to go but I think even a few years ago it was a statement to be a female driver and it’s great to see how things are changing.” 

Caroline Schofield works with industry colleagues leading work to make travel even more accessible and inclusive: “I'm really passionate about train travel and I recognise my privilege in that I can just get on the train whenever I want with ease. However, there are many barriers for a lot of people. My role is all about helping remove those barriers to make train travel more accessible and more inclusive.” 

Former apprentice Olivia Mouter is now working as Environmental Partnerships Manager: “I always speak so highly of the apprenticeship programme to anyone that asks. I started working onboard trains and spotted an application for a Safety and Operations apprenticeship. When applying, I thought to myself; ‘can I do it?’ and here I am! Rail offers so many career opportunities and the chance to realise your ambitions.”