Young Rail Professionals

We are pleased to announce Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) as headline sponsor of the Young Rail Professionals Annual Dinner & Awards 2027, celebrating emerging talent and the people and organisations helping the next generation build successful careers in rail.

TRU is transforming the railway across the North via faster and more reliable journeys, enabling economic growth, and its ambition goes beyond infrastructure. The programme is committed to creating opportunities for people to develop their skills, build careers and play their part in the future of the rail industry. That makes the partnership with Young Rail Professionals a natural fit. The YRP Annual Dinner & Awards brings the industry together to recognise outstanding young professionals, mentors and organisations investing in rail’s future talent. James Richardson, TRU Managing Director said:

“TRU is transforming the railway across 70 miles between York and Manchester and the legacy we leave is about people as well as infrastructure. With over 480 apprentices already and more to come, we’re creating opportunities for people to develop their skills, build rewarding careers and help shape the future of rail.

“That’s why we’re proud to be headline sponsor of the YRP Awards 2027 and to celebrate the talent, ambition and commitment of young professionals across our industry.”

Organisations create social value through the opportunities they offer young people and the support that helps them progress. The awards recognise this investment and young professionals’ achievements. Lizzie Stevens, our 2026 Young Rail Professional of the Year, began her career as a WSP apprentice and has since taken up a role with WSP Australia. She told us: “Being formally recognised by YRP helped give me the confidence to put myself forward for this promotion”. Her experience shows how recognition can encourage someone to pursue further opportunities within their organisation. YRP’s mission to promote rail as a great place to work includes sharing these stories, showing prospective entrants the careers they could build and celebrating the workplaces helping them do so. Kathryn Lancaster, our 2026 Distinguished Service Award winner, acknowledged that support when reflecting on her almost four decades in rail:

“This recognition really belongs to the colleagues, partners and volunteers who have supported me, challenged me and shared the same belief that rail is about people, communities and opportunity.”

We’ve extended the nominations deadline to midnight on 31 December 2026, giving you more time to put forward the people and organisations whose work deserves recognition. Mohammed Al-Sharif, our 2026 Mentor of the Year, offered a reminder that the gesture itself can mean a great deal:

“If you’ve benefited from a great mentor, you could make someone’s day with the gesture of nominating them alone.”

Tell us whose contribution you admire and what they have achieved. Explore the categories and submit your nomination for the 2027 YRP Annual Dinner & Awards.