Laura Beverley
Head of Strategic Planning and Assurance
MBA
What does my job involve?
I manage a great team of people who look at startegic planning, portfolio management, reporting against the delivery of the business plan and providing assurance of the plan through internal audit and risk management.
What do I like most about my job?
It’s such a varied role and the many challenges keep me on my toes. Seeing the full lyfecycle from strategy to delivery through to seeing the benefits gives me alot of joy.
Kate Wilson
Track Design Engineer, WSP
MSc in Railway Systems Engineering and Intergration, FdEng in Railway Engineering
What does my job involve?
Delivering track designs from feasibility through to detail design. As well as designing brand new railways such as HS2, its also about maintaining and adapting the current infrastructure that we depend on every day.
What do I like most about my job?
Coming up with solutions to complex problems and implementing them, literally shaping the world we live in as well as designing for a better future. It is a very rewarding job.
Kendra Ayling
Group Head of Brand and Marketing, Hitachi Rail
Masters Degree in Marketing
What does my job involve?
I manage the Hitachi brand and all marketing activity for the rail business, including exhibitions such as InnoTrans, events, social media, our website – and much more!
What do I like most about my job?
Every day is completely different, working across different events and bidding work across the globe – which involves a lot of global travel! I also have an amazing team supporting me.
Marta Hidalgo
Stations Design at Arup
MSc Civil Engineering
What does my job involve?
Coordinating the engineering and stakeholders’ views within one station design. Unfortunately, we can’t always satisfy everyone’s requirements but we work to incorporate these in the best possible way. This is when creativity comes into play!
What do I like most about my job?
Being able to design interventions and improvements at stations – the link between the rail infrastructure and cities! – which will have a positive wider impact on the local community and how they travel.
Joe Dodgson
Track Engineer at Arup
MEng (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering
What does my job involve?
I design railway alignments and track componentry. The types of projects I work on are upgrading existing rail networks, or designing alignments for new railways.
What do I like most about my job?
The best thing about my job is knowing that the designs I carry out will improve connectivity of communities and improve people’s travel experiences.
Jemma
Senior Engineer/ Temporary Works Co-ordinator on EGIP project
Degree in Civil Engineering/ Incorporated Engineer
What does my job involve?
I ensure all the temporary works across the route is planned, designed, installed, checked and dismantled safely. I bridge the gap between the designers and constructions teams.
What do I like most about my job?
I get to solve complex engineering and logistical problems. I am helping to make the Railways more efficient and sustainable. I get to see the direct impact my job has on the Scottish Landscape.
Vivek Vilay
STO(Track) Network Rail
Foundation Degree Railway Engineering
What does my job involve?
I work across Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire with Platforms, Bridges, Tunnels, Rail and Track. fault find and propose solutions. Weekends work involves installation. I survey for refurbishment and renewal. I assist renewal work and machines.
What do I like most about my job?
The challenge working on this railway.
Take advantage of dry and calm weather, Independent Working, the improvements made, meeting different colleagues, travelling far seeing the railway amongst the fells and natural landscape.
Bryant Yates
Associate
BEng(Hons) BSc CEng MIMechE RPP MAPM
What does my job involve?
Managing the delivery of complex railway engineering design projects by a multi-disciplinary team whilst working collaboratively with my clients to achieve the benefits they wish to deliver.
What do I like most about my job?
Working with highly skilled people, building teams tailored to the projects required, applying new thinking and technologies to solve complex problems and the variety of projects – I am never bored!
Andre Blackwood
Assistant Telecommunications Engineer at Atkins
Foundation Degree in Electronic and Control Engineering / Degree in Design Management and Innovation
What does my job involve?
My job involves designing, integrating and testing various telecommunications systems on the railway to help rail employees communicate with each other and passengers, manage stations and other infrastructure and provide information to passengers.
What do I like most about my job?
I like getting to develop designs and see them go from paper to working systems that meet the clients needs, Travelling to new places for interesting projects and working with new people on projects teams.
Gareth Dennis
Permanent Way Engineer at Arcadis
MEng Civil Engineering with Construction Management
What does my job involve?
We are at the interface of civil and mechanical engineering; our designs enable faster, bigger trains to run on existing tracks or, failing that, we design new railway lines for higher speeds and capacity.
What do I like most about my job?
Getting to see the difference my projects have made to society at large… Whether it is taking more freight off the road or connecting communities long forgotten, the railway enables that opportunity.