Rail Social Value - The Pathway to Filling the Skills Gap

04/13/23 • 26 min

The Rail Safety and Standards Board Podcast

Finding the right people to fill vacant roles can be difficult. Steve Womack of Amey Infrastructure Wales talks about how he has found workers with transferable skills. He's also contributing social value to his local area by employing ex-offenders.
Hear about lessons from a steep learning curve and the benefits to be found.
01:41 About Steve Womack

02:31 Getting involved with the Pathway Programme

04:00 Finding the right candidates for the right roles

06:00 The response of staff to working with ex-offenders

07:39 Gareth’s involvement and experience with the programme

08:51 Gareth’s reception at Amey Infrastructure Wales

09:35 Steve talks about the results and the learning from the programme

10:35 Dealing with the transition from prison to release and employment

13:10 What Gareth has learned and gained from the programme

14:50 Steve recommends getting involved in the programme

16:10 About other schemes around the country

16:28 Steve’s offer to talk about his experience with the scheme

18:05 Gareth explains the challenges for programme participants

20:36 Learnings for participants and organisers within the programme

22:25 Using Gareth as a mentor for new participants

25:05 Gareth sums up his experience of the programme
If you'd like to talk to Steve Womack about his experience of the Pathway Programme, please use LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-womack-7471b532/
Transport for Wales Helping Rehabilitate People https://news.tfw.wales/news/transport-for-wales-helping-rehabilitate-people
GOV.UK Guidance on employing prisoners and ex-offenders https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unlock-opportunity-employer-information-pack-and-case-studies

02:31 Getting involved with the Pathway Programme

04:00 Finding the right candidates for the right roles

06:00 The response of staff to working with ex-offenders

07:39 Gareth’s involvement and experience with the programme

08:51 Gareth’s reception at Amey Infrastructure Wales

09:35 Steve talks about the results and the learning from the programme

10:35 Dealing with the transition from prison to release and employment

13:10 What Gareth has learned and gained from the programme

14:50 Steve recommends getting involved in the programme

16:10 About other schemes around the country

16:28 Steve’s offer to talk about his experience with the scheme

18:05 Gareth explains the challenges for programme participants

20:36 Learnings for participants and organisers within the programme

22:25 Using Gareth as a mentor for new participants

Previous Episode

Safety Culture - the RAIB perspective

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch does what it says on the tin. It looks at both accidents and incidents to find their underlying causes. No blame is laid, but recommendations for mitigations are made; some of which may be around organisational culture.

Here, two of RAIB’s accident investigators talk about a company’s safety culture, learning opportunities, and how the two work together to deliver an ever safer railway.

00:05 Introduction

01:37 About Tabitha

01:57 About Mark

02:38 Tabitha’s views on the connection between safety culture and learning

05:17 Mark talks about what impact RAIB recommendations might have on company culture

06:55 Tabitha’s adds more on recommendations that address safety culture

08:41 Mark talks about the language in RAIB reports and how it supports a just culture

10:53 Mark talks about difficulties in establishing underlying factors

11:23 Tabitha on RAIB’s guidance for investigating underlying organisational factors

13:48 Mark talks about RAIB’s products that support corporate memory

15:33 Summary and close

Related links

Rail Accident Investigation Branch web page https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/rail-accident-investigation-branch

How to notify RAIB of an accident https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/notifying-us-of-an-accident

The Railways (Accident Investigation and Reporting) Regulations 2005 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1992/contents/made?view=plain

Accident Investigation and Learning RSSB web page https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/learning-from-experience/accident-investigation-and-learning

RSSB Accident Investigation Training https://www.rssb.co.uk/services-and-resources/training/accident-investigation-training

Next Episode

20 Years of RSSB – Level Crossing Safety

As RSSB celebrates its 20th year, this episode looks at the work that it has done to help improve safety at level crossing, one of the biggest sources of risk for the railway.

00:57 About Michael Woods

02:00 The Ufton level crossing accident described

03:32 How Michael got RSSB involved

04:56 RSSB directors brief ministers and help secure RSSB’s future independence

05:54 Looking at new technologies to improve level crossing safety

08:37 Reviewing the ideas sent on for safety improvements

11:04 Proposals for rail vehicle and track design improvements

12:29 Improvements in level crossing safety since Ufton

13:30 Close

You may be interested in:

Level Crossings – RSSB web page
https://www.rssb.co.uk/safety-and-health/leading-health-and-safety-on-britains-railway/level-crossings

Network Rail strategy: Enhancing Level Crossing Safety 2019 – 2029 (PDF download) https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Enhancing-Level-Crossing-Safety-2019-2029.pdf