YRP Awards 2023 - Shortlist Announced!

Young Rail Professional Awards 2023 - Shortlist Announced

Launched in 2010, the YRP Annual Dinner and Awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated commitment to the railway industry, be it via their outstanding ability, inspiring others or simply doing something extraordinary.

Hosting up to 500 attendees and kindly sponsored by CPC Project Services, this year’s event will be held in the impressive ICC in Birmingham on Thursday 13^th April. Birmingham has a wealth of railway history and heritage, making it an ideal location for the dinner. As important as the history of rail in this region is its future. In recent years, Birmingham has seen significant investment in the rail sector, with programmes such as HS2 making up the biggest transport interventions in the region since the industrial revolution. We look forward to welcoming you!

Acknowledgement of the accomplishments of young people, inspirational mentors and supportive employers is vital to celebrate the continued drive for excellence within the rail industry. Please join us in congratulating the shortlisted nominees for the Young Rail Professional Awards 2023!

The finalists within each category will be announced on 16^th March and winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 13^th April.

For more information about the event, keynote speaker and ticket prices, please click here. Still need convincing? Take a look at last year's event!

Remaining tables are limited and selling fast on a first come first served basis, so to purchase your table or ticket please contact fiona.westcough@youngrailpro.com.

For any general enquiries about the event itself, please contact award@youngrailpro.com.

Keynote Speaker

YRP is delighted to welcome keynote speaker Ruth Busby. Ruth is People and Transformation Director (Regional) for Great Western Railway and Network Rail, Wales and Western, a new strategic joint role for 2023 at the forefront of industry collaboration. Prior to this Ruth was HR Director at Great Western Railway (GWR), leading the people agenda with a focus on engagement, leadership, customer focus, kindness, equality, inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing. Ruth played a critical role in delivering the biggest timetable change at GWR since the 1970s, training over 5000 colleagues in customer service skills, and delivering a new leadership development programme.

Additional to her role, Ruth has been involved in several industry wide and Youth activities, such as Executive Sponsor for Rail Wellbeing Live, Trustee of Women in Rail and a Non-Executive Director for Youth Futures Foundation (YFF). Ruth is a Fellow of the CIPD, was awarded HR Director of the Year at the Personnel Today Awards in 2021, and with her team HR Team of the Year in 2020.

Shortlisted Nominations

Young Rail Professional of the Year    

• Bill Guo, Jacobs
• Charlie Smith, Porterbrook
• Conor O'Donnell, Atkins
• Daniel Wilson, SRC Infrastructure
• Felix Rogers, Arup
• Gemma Southgate, Transport for Wales
• Grace Thompson, West Midlands Trains
• Natalie Gravett-Foyn, Arup
• Riona Ainge, SYSTRA
• Robert Earles, Network Rail

Apprentice of the Year

• Amélie Williams-Slade, Alstom
• Jacob Cassidy, Freightliner Maintenance Limited
• Lucy Davison, SYSTRA
• Michael Holden, VolkerRail
• Niamh Mc Keating, Alstom
• Rebecca Jackson, VolkerRail
• Tia Evans, Arup

Mentor of the Year

• Alex Theofilidis, Jacobs
• Michael Chung, Atkins
• Nadine O'Toole, VolkerRail
• Oly Turner, GTR
• Sarah Mennell, VolkerRail
• Stephen Martinez-Hill, HICSE
• Temi Afolabi, The Nichols Group
• Tom Flannery, Atkins

Employer of the Year

• Nominations have re-opened until Tuesday 28th February. For award criteria, or to nominate your company/organisation, please click here. 

Volunteer of the Year

• Finalists announced on 16^th March!