As some of you may well know, and perhaps attended, our AGM and Skills Symposium was held at the historic Foundling Museum last week. We had a range of amazing speakers from the industry present valuable insights into current projects, alongside what we should be looking forward to going into next year. A big theme of the day was the value of apprenticeships, with some of our very own PlanBEE Rail apprentices discussing their experiences in the programme and in the rail industry as a whole. If you would like to find out more about the PlanBEE Rail programme, please get in touch.
We had the extremely personable and well-loved Simon Reeve as our keynote speaker this year, and he was kind enough to speak about his struggles and successes when moving through the workforce, and later, exploring the world. A champion of apprenticeships, Simon reminded us that whilst talent is in no short supply, we must ensure we create ample opportunities for these young talented people to join, and thrive in the industry. I’d like to extend my gratitude to Simon, our speakers, and everyone who joined us on the day and asked some truly insightful questions. If you would like to look at the full presentation pack, please click here.
At the AGM, we also announced the release of our Annual Workforce Survey report. Thank you to all employers who provided their data, I’m pleased to announce that not only was this the most successful year on record for data collection, but we are also seeing increases in the amount of women and ethnic minorities working in rail. To further the positivity, we are starting to observe a decrease in the average age of UK rail workers, which is welcome news as we face crucial skills shortages. I encourage you to read the full report to find out the most up to date industry statistics, and what they could mean for the future.
I had the pleasure of joining Ed Thomas, Partner at KPMG, at Railway Study Network’s Fireside Chat recently. We discussed all things rail finance, where it’s headed and what it means for the industry in the future. This was a fascinating evening with a truly engaging audience, and I look forward to continuing the Fireside Chat events in 2026.
Lastly, I’d just like to thank everyone who has supported and collaborated with NSAR this year. This industry continues to show its value for progress, growth and innovation, and I look forward to seeing what we can all achieve together in the new year. I hope you have a wonderful festive season, and I will see you all in 2026!