Initiative: Since joining Freightliner in November 2024, Balazs has demonstrated exceptional initiative, quickly moving beyond the expectations of his role within the Container Sales function. While initially recruited to provide basic marketing support, he proactively identified opportunities to enhance the business’s visual and digital presence. Balazs has taken ownership of refreshing and modernising Freightliner’s photography and graphics, independently applying his academic background and technical skills to improve the quality and consistency of visual content across the organisation. Much of this is activity we had previously paid an external agency to do for us. He has also actively collaborated with senior stakeholders, including members of the Executive team, to support the development of impactful presentations and communications. Impact: Balazs has made a tangible and lasting impact on Freightliner in a short space of time. His work in updating corporate imagery and branding materials has significantly improved how the business presents itself both internally and externally, contributing to a more professional and cohesive identity. His involvement in high-profile projects, including acting as videographer for a major event involving our parent company, has delivered clear commercial and reputational value. The quality of his outputs has been consistently high, enhancing engagement and strengthening the company’s communications capability. Balazs has also supported corporate photography initiatives, reducing reliance on external providers and delivering cost and efficiency benefits to the business, none of which was a requirement or stipulation in his role profile. Attitude: Balazs is characterised by his humility, professionalism, and strong work ethic. Despite his impressive skill set and growing contribution, he remains understated and unassuming, quietly delivering work of an exceptionally high standard. He is highly collaborative, approachable, and willing to support colleagues at all levels of the organisation. Balazs consistently demonstrates a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to delivering excellence. He embodies a “can-do” approach, taking on tasks beyond his core responsibilities without seeking recognition or praise. His dedication to personal development is equally evident, having balanced academic achievement - including a BTEC in Television Broadcasting and a BA in Marketing and Digital Communication – while working in corporate events. Innovation: Balazs brings a fresh and innovative perspective to Freightliner, introducing new capabilities in photography, videography, and digital content creation. His ability to blend creative and technical skills has enabled the business to evolve its approach to visual communications. He has modernised existing materials and introduced new ways of presenting content, enhancing both engagement and impact. His work reflects a forward-thinking approach that aligns with the expectations of modern audiences and stakeholders. Balazs’s contributions have been genuinely transformative, particularly in elevating the quality and effectiveness of the business’s visual identity. His innovation continues to open up new opportunities for Freightliner to communicate more effectively and professionally. Balazs embodies the qualities this award seeks to recognise - bringing new perspectives, demonstrating commitment to excellence, and making a meaningful impact early in his career. He represents the future of the rail industry: talented, versatile, and forward-thinking. Freightliner is proud to recognise Balazs as a rising star within the business. His journey is only just beginning, and with the right opportunities, his potential to contribute even further is immense. Quote from internal customer, Peter Graham, Policy & Government Affairs Director: “Faced with a critical industry presentation and significant time constraints, I approached Balazs to support in transforming my content into a clear, engaging, and professionally structured format. The outcome exceeded all expectations. Balazs not only interpreted my requirements with precision but elevated the material to a level of quality and professionalism far beyond what I had anticipated. He quickly understood what was needed, turned complex information into a clear and engaging story, and brought fresh ideas that significantly improved the final product. Despite graphic design not being his core discipline, Balazs produced visually stunning infographics and presentation materials of a standard I would normally expect from a specialist design team. He has a real ability to take complex ideas and turn them into clear, engaging visuals that strengthen both the message and its impact. The quality of the output was exceptional and genuinely raised the bar for what I thought was possible within the timescales available. What really stood out was his willingness to go above and beyond. Rather than simply reworking the content, he took the time to strengthen the narrative, bringing new ideas and creative approaches that materially improved the overall presentation. His creativity, attention to detail and commitment to delivering the best possible outcome transformed the final product into something that was not only highly professional and visually compelling, but significantly more impactful for the audience.” Quote from internal customer, Nick Matthews, COO: "Although Balazs is part of a central services team providing sales and marketing support to Container Sales within my remit, his contribution has extended far beyond the expectations of his role. When he joined Freightliner just 18 months ago, he had no prior operational or rail industry experience. However, he quickly immersed himself in the business, rapidly developing a deep understanding of both our operations and commercial objectives. Balazs has become a fully integrated and highly valued member of the Container Sales team. His ability to understand our products, customers and market requirements has enabled him to make a significant impact. He has made a significant contribution to our online presence, driving sales growth through digital optimisation. His innovative approach to marketing and his creativity in developing new ways to promote our offering has helped strengthen our market presence and support business growth. Balazs combines exceptional talent, determination and professionalism with a genuine commitment to the success of the business. His achievements in such a short period are remarkable, and he is undoubtedly a future leader with enormous potential."

CrossCountry Fraud Team The CrossCountry Fraud Team is being nominated for the Emerging Talent Team Award in recognition of its outstanding impact since being established in January 2025. Created for the first time within CrossCountry's Customer and Commercial Directorate, the team was tasked with tackling a significant and growing challenge: identifying, preventing and investigating fraud across one of Britain's most geographically diverse rail networks. For a small team of just three initially, the scale of the challenge was enormous. CrossCountry operates more than 250 train services every day and serves over 100 stations across the country, creating countless opportunities for fraud and revenue loss. Working closely with Revenue Protection, Customer Relations and colleagues across the business, the team was established to protect revenue for both fare-paying customers and taxpayers while ensuring fraudulent activity could be detected and investigated effectively. In a relatively short period of time, the team has delivered remarkable results. Since January 2025, it has actively recovered more than £234,000 through fraud investigations, while preventing a further £227,000 of losses through the identification and blocking of fraudulent or inflated Delay Repay claims. Together, this represents more than £460,000 protected for the business. The team's success extends far beyond these headline figures. More than 5,700 potential Delay Repay fraud cases have been assessed and investigated, alongside hundreds of fare evasion cases. Through detailed analysis, intelligence gathering and close collaboration with operational colleagues, the team has successfully identified patterns of fraudulent activity and developed increasingly effective methods of detection and prevention. One of the team's most significant successes came through its contribution to a major industry-wide investigation involving multiple train operators. Intelligence identified by the CrossCountry Fraud Team helped uncover a large-scale fraud operation which resulted in two individuals being sentenced to prison after defrauding train operators of more than £156,000. The case demonstrated the team's expertise and the growing influence it has developed both within CrossCountry and across the wider rail industry. At the heart of the team's success has been Fraud Manager Leanne Appleby. Drawing on her extensive CrossCountry experience, Leanne has built strong relationships across the business, working closely with Revenue Protection, Customer Relations and onboard colleagues to create fraud prevention and detection processes that are effective, practical and easy to use. Her leadership has helped establish a culture of collaboration and innovation that has enabled the team to exceed expectations from the outset. The results have been so successful that the team has already expanded from its original size to include three investigators, two analysts and a dedicated manager. In a little over a year, the Fraud Team has gone from a new concept to an established and highly valued part of the business, delivering significant financial benefits while strengthening CrossCountry's ability to detect and prevent fraud. By identifying new opportunities, tackling complex challenges and delivering measurable results at pace, the CrossCountry Fraud Team has demonstrated exactly what an emerging team can achieve. Their success, innovation and impact make them highly deserving recipients of the Emerging Talent Team Award.

This nomination is submitted in recognition of Daniel whose short professional journey so far within Great Western Railway exemplifies technical excellence, innovation, and an excellent commitment to safety and performance. His progression from apprentice to Engineering Support Technician has been marked by distinction, initiative, and a forward looking mindset that consistently strengthens depot capability and contributes meaningfully to the fleets performance and reliability. Daniel began his career with Great Western Railway through a four year mechanical and electrical apprenticeship, completed with distinction. This achievement reflects not only his academic and technical capability but also his dedication to understanding complex engineering principles and railway systems. Throughout his apprenticeship, he demonstrated exceptional proficiency in both mechanical and electrical disciplines, consistently performing above expectations and earning the respect of mentors and colleagues. His ability to absorb technical knowledge rapidly and apply it has set him apart early in his career. In addition to his traditional engineering training, he possesses a significant breadth of knowledge in software engineering, a skillset increasingly vital to the future of railway technology. Daniel’s understanding of digital systems, automation, and diagnostic software positions him at the forefront of modern engineering practice within the railway. As the rail industry continues to evolve toward integrated digital mechanical solutions, his dual expertise places Daniel in a unique position and enables him to contribute to innovation in ways few engineers can. This combination of mechanical competence and digital fluency is rare, and it enhances his value to every team. Upon completing his apprenticeship, he secured a Technician position working with much older rolling stock like the loco and coaches that operate the sleeper but also the modern Class 387s, this role required precision, resilience, and a deep understanding of rolling stock systems. His transition from apprentice to qualified technician appeared to be seamless. He quickly became known for his professionalism, reliability, and calm approach to problem solving. His contributions strengthened team performance, and he consistently demonstrated maturity beyond his experience level. Within 18 months, he achieved a significant career milestone: promotion to a team of six highly technical engineers dedicated to fleet performance by leading in depth fault rectification and investigations along with the safety of the train. This team plays a critical role in ensuring that the London and Thames Valley fleet operates reliably, efficiently, and in full compliance with safety standards. Daniel’s promotion to this team reflects his technical capability, his strong work ethic, and the confidence placed in him by depot leadership. In this role, he contributes to performance analysis, fault investigation, and continuous improvement initiatives that directly impact fleet reliability. An example where Daniel has used his excellent engineering and digital skills is the fault diagnosis and live reporting of the class 230 cab and saloon air conditioning. Daniel designed a system by which there is remote connections to the air conditioning system on the Class 230 battery train which also connects to the Wi-Fi which provides real time information, . The live data has been crucial to understanding the fault parameters and modifications required to ensure the air conditioning system is working as intended Dan’s approach to engineering is characterised by forward thinking, analytical precision, and a commitment to continuous improvement. He works effectively both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating strong communication skills, respect for colleagues, and a willingness to support team objectives. His ability to operate autonomously while maintaining alignment with team goals is a significant asset in rail engineering environments. Looking ahead, he is widely regarded as a future leader within railway engineering. His technical foundation is robust, his digital capability is advanced, and his mindset is consistently oriented toward innovation. He has already demonstrated leadership qualities through his initiative, his thoughtful decision making, and his willingness to mentor and support others. As he continues to develop, he is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping engineering standards, driving technological advancement, and guiding teams through the evolving challenges of modern railway maintenance. This nomination recognises an engineer who embodies the highest standards of Great Western Railway. His apprenticeship distinction, rapid career progression, dual expertise in mechanical and digital engineering, and proactive contributions to depot innovation make him an exceptional candidate for this award. He has consistently demonstrated excellence, initiative, and professionalism, and his future promises continued impact on fleet performance, safety, and technological development. Daniel’s personal and professional development is continuous where he is always looking to learn new engineering practices and deepen his knowledge. Dan is not only a high performing engineer today but an emerging talent, whose influence will strengthen depot capability for years to come. For these reasons, he is formally and wholeheartedly nominated for this award.

Jess Beale joined Network Rail as a graduate and has quickly built a solid reputation as a fab project leader! Jess doesn’t just complete the work given to her. She takes ownership and looks for ways to improve how people work together. A strong example is Spend a Shift initiative which Jess took from an early concept to route-wide delivery in just over four months. Spend a Shift gives colleagues the chance to experience roles outside their usual area. This helps them better understand the challenges faced by other teams. Jess secured the involvement of senior leaders from the start. The first placements included the Infrastructure Director working a night shift at Exeter Signal Box. The Route Director also spent time with colleagues on track. The initiative has already delivered tangible results. More than 25 Western route colleagues have taken part from a range of teams. It’s also expanded beyond Network Rail into the wider industry with colleagues from GTS Rail Operations signing up and GWR is also due to join the scheme. Jess has brought energy and determination to her role and I personally have really enjoyed working with her. Why? Well, she’s approachable, kind and always willing to help! She works confidently with people at all levels and also has a genuine desire to learn. She seeks out new tasks and takes on work beyond what might be expected from someone who is still relatively new to the railway. Jess is an excellent example of what a newcomer can bring to the railway. She’s taken ownership, built strong relationships and turned an idea into something that is already making a difference. Her work is helping teams across the railway understand each other and work better together and I’m excited to see where her career leads.

What sets Joey apart is his ambition to continuously improve and his genuine desire to make a difference. He demonstrates the qualities of a great Senior Conductor throughout, has become very knowledgeable and acts as an unofficial Mentor to others at his Depot in Leicester (I know this as others based at Leicester and Birmingham have mentioned they approach him for advice), he also has commitment to delivering excellent results. Joey’s success in his role throughout the apprenticeship is a testament to his hard work, determination, and enthusiasm.

Lara Turpin is being nominated for the Emerging Talent Team or Person Award in recognition of the outstanding contribution she has made since joining CrossCountry in 2022 and the enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism she brings to every project she undertakes. Starting her railway career as a Brand, Campaign and Social Media Executive, Lara has quickly established herself as a valued member of the team and an emerging talent with a bright future ahead of her. In a relatively short period of time, she has developed a strong understanding of both the railway industry and CrossCountry's customers, helping to deliver campaigns and initiatives that have enhanced the company's reputation and strengthened engagement with customers and colleagues alike. Lara has played a key role in the successful delivery of CrossCountry's "Take Us On Your Journey" advertising campaign, supporting the production of content across television, digital and out-of-home advertising. The campaign has been well received both within the marketing industry and by customers, helping showcase the value of rail travel and promoting a positive image of the business. Her creativity, eye for detail and willingness to get involved in every aspect of production have been instrumental to its success. Alongside major campaigns, Lara has been heavily involved in a wide range of brand activations across the network. Whether helping deliver customer events, supporting promotional activity at stations or bringing creative ideas to life in cities across the route, she consistently approaches every opportunity with energy, professionalism and a positive attitude. Nothing is ever too much trouble, whether that means an early start, a long journey across the network or working behind the scenes to ensure an event runs smoothly. One of Lara's greatest strengths is her youthful creativity and her willingness to innovate. She has played a leading role in developing new approaches to social media content, helping grow CrossCountry's online presence and engagement. Her "Day in the Life" video series, featuring colleagues from underrepresented groups, has helped showcase the diversity of the workforce while bringing authentic and engaging stories to new audiences. These initiatives have not only supported recruitment and inclusion goals but have also helped put colleagues at the heart of CrossCountry's communications. In addition to her marketing responsibilities, Lara has supported internal communications activity, content creation and stakeholder engagement across the business. Colleagues consistently describe her as enthusiastic, reliable and willing to help wherever needed. Her positive attitude and collaborative approach have made her a trusted member of the team and someone colleagues actively seek to work with. Some of Lara’s achievements at CrossCountry so far include: Social Follower growth - 33% growth since Lara joined Take Us On Your Journey 3 Brand Campaign - Over 31m impressions across social activity Refurbished Voyager Campaign - Over 1m views, 700 new followers and +15k interactions across social Lara's achievements to date are impressive, but even more exciting is the potential she continues to demonstrate. Through her creativity, commitment and passion for telling the stories of CrossCountry's people and customers, she has already made a significant impact and established herself as one of the railway's rising stars. She is a highly deserving recipient of the Emerging Talent Team or Person Award.

Tracy Stevenson is a leading figure in promoting the railway in Scotland as a driver of social good, transforming charitable partnership working across Scotland and creating lasting benefits for communities, charities and colleagues. Through strategic leadership, innovative fundraising and an unwavering commitment to volunteering and community engagement, Tracy has generated significant charitable value across Scotland, including more than £7.3 million through ScotRail's partnership with Age Scotland and a 90% increase in fundraising and gift-in-kind support for Poppyscotland, while creating opportunities that improve lives and strengthen communities. Her work has delivered nearly £400,000 of direct charitable support for Age Scotland through fundraising, donations and goods purchased on the charity's behalf, while helping build a partnership worth more than £7.3 million through complimentary travel, advertising, train branding and organisational support. She also transformed ScotRail's support for Poppyscotland, increasing the combined annual value of fundraising and gift-in-kind support from £100,00 to over £200,000. Beyond fundraising, Tracy has developed partnerships with organisations including Street Soccer Scotland, Girlguiding Scotland, Phoenix Scotland, Sacro, We Are With You and the Scottish Prison Service, creating sustainable opportunities that promote rehabilitation, wellbeing, inclusion and community participation. What distinguishes Tracy is her ability to connect people, organisations and communities around a shared purpose, turning ideas into initiatives that deliver measurable social impact and leave a lasting legacy. Initiative Tracy consistently identifies opportunities to expand and improve charitable activity rather than simply maintain existing programmes. Under her leadership, ScotRail's Adopt a Station programme evolved from a traditional station enhancement initiative into a wider volunteering and community engagement programme delivering social, environmental and charitable benefits. Recognising the need to modernise the volunteer experience, she introduced a volunteer portal that simplified recruitment, communication and recognition, helping make volunteering more accessible and contributing to ScotRail achieving Investing in Volunteers accreditation. To celebrate and encourage community participation, Tracy helped support the ScotRail in the Community Awards, creating a platform to recognise volunteers, charity partners, station adopters and community groups whose contributions often go unnoticed. Her influence extends beyond ScotRail. As an active member of the RSSB Social Sustainability Working Group, Tracy champions employer-supported volunteering and promotes understanding of social value across the rail industry, helping shape best practice beyond her own organisation. Impact The impact of Tracy's work is reflected in both measurable results and long-term community benefits. Through ScotRail's partnership with Age Scotland, Tracy has helped generate nearly £400,000 of direct charitable support through fundraising, donations and goods purchased on the charity's behalf, enabling the charity to tackle loneliness, isolation and poverty among older people. Alongside this, the wider partnership has delivered more than £7.3 million of value through travel support, advertising, train branding and organisational investment, helping Age Scotland extend its reach and continue its vital work across Scotland. Her leadership has transformed ScotRail's relationship with Poppyscotland through a year-round programme of fundraising, awareness raising and operational support. This has increased the combined value of annual fundraising and gift-in-kind contributions from £106,074 to £202,052, representing growth of more than 90% and providing significantly greater support for Scotland's Armed Forces community. Tracy's commitment to charitable giving has helped ScotRail progress from Payroll Giving Bronze to Gold accreditation, with Gold-Status maintained for two consecutive years. Beyond fundraising, she has created opportunities that genuinely change lives. Through partnerships with Phoenix Scotland, We Are With You, Sacro and the Scottish Prison Service, individuals have been supported to gain practical skills, rebuild confidence, establish positive routines and contribute to their communities. These initiatives reduce social isolation while creating meaningful volunteering and development opportunities. Her work with Girlguiding Scotland has also had a lasting impact. Through the Travelling with Confidence programme and the development of the Next Stop Adventure and Get On Board badges, thousands of young people have been encouraged to travel safely and confidently by rail while developing independence and awareness of sustainable travel. Attitude Tracy is recognised by colleagues, volunteers, community groups and charity partners for her enthusiasm, integrity and genuine commitment to helping others. She builds trusted relationships and brings together charities, volunteers, local organisations and industry partners around shared goals. Her ability to engage and inspire people has been instrumental in the success of ScotRail's charity partnerships and community programmes. Importantly, Tracy leads by example. Whether supporting station projects, participating in fundraising challenges or promoting charitable campaigns, she demonstrates the same commitment she encourages in others. This authenticity has helped embed a culture where volunteering, fundraising and community engagement are valued across the organisation. Her personal dedication is reflected in her own fundraising efforts, including raising more than £2,100 for Age Scotland through the Clyde Zipline Challenge. When another participant withdrew at short notice, Tracy stepped forward to complete a second crossing herself, ensuring fundraising targets could still be achieved. Innovation Innovation is central to Tracy's approach. She continually seeks new ways to increase charitable impact while ensuring initiatives remain sustainable and accessible. Tracy developed Tracks to Treasures, a creative fundraising initiative that encouraged colleagues to donate pre-loved items for resale, generating funds for Age Scotland while promoting sustainability and raising awareness of issues affecting older people. She has also introduced innovative approaches to volunteering and partnership working that make charitable activity easier to access and participate in. Through programmes such as Brighter Stations, Tracy has demonstrated how collaboration between charities, community groups and industry partners can deliver wider benefits, improving environments, supporting wellbeing and strengthening community connections. Tracy's contribution extends far beyond the impressive financial value she has generated for charitable causes. She has transformed how ScotRail delivers social value, embedded a culture of volunteering and community engagement, and created opportunities that have improved the lives of thousands of people across Scotland. Through her leadership, innovation and personal commitment, she has secured vital support for charities, strengthened communities and demonstrated the unique role the railway can play in creating positive social change. Her achievements combine exceptional fundraising results with sustainable community impact, making her an outstanding and deserving recipient of the ‘RailStaff Award for Charity’.

I would like to nominate Caroline, Ticket Office Supervisor at Clacton Station, for Customer Service Person of the Year. Caroline is one of those people who genuinely makes a difference to everyone around her. She always goes above and beyond for both customers and colleagues, and her dedication never goes unnoticed. One of the things that stands out most about Caroline is the relationship she has with her customers. She takes the time to get to know people, remembers details from previous conversations, and makes everyone feel welcome. You can tell that she genuinely cares about the people she helps, and that personal touch means a lot. Customers regularly seek her out because they know they’ll receive friendly, knowledgeable, and thoughtful service. Caroline also cares deeply about Clacton Station and takes great pride in her work. She wants the station to be the best it can be and always puts customers at the centre of everything she does. Whether she’s helping someone with a ticket query, supporting a vulnerable passenger, or simply offering a friendly smile, she makes people feel valued. As a colleague, Caroline is incredibly supportive and understanding. She creates an environment where people feel comfortable being themselves and where everyone feels respected. I have never felt judged or out of place around her, and I know many others would say the same. She is always willing to listen, offer advice, or lend a helping hand when it’s needed. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Caroline has taken on a significant role in training staff. She is a patient, encouraging, and inspiring trainer who takes the time to ensure people feel confident and supported as they learn. No question is ever too small, and she never makes anyone feel embarrassed for asking for help. Her calm approach and willingness to share her knowledge have helped many colleagues develop their skills and confidence, creating a stronger team and ultimately improving the service we provide to our customers. What I admire most is how professional Caroline remains in every situation. Even when faced with difficult circumstances, she handles them with calmness, empathy, and grace. She has a natural ability to put people at ease and find solutions while maintaining the highest standards of customer service. Caroline represents everything that great customer service should be. Her kindness, professionalism, dedication to developing others, and genuine care for both customers and colleagues make her an asset to the railway and a truly deserving candidate for this award.

I’d like to nominate Clare Caddick not just for what she has done, but for the way she has done it. Clare is a driver at LNER, but that only tells a small part of the story. Alongside a demanding operational role, she consistently steps forward to support areas that matter, particularly around women’s health, inclusion and colleague wellbeing. She sees opportunities to improve support for others and actively contributes to making meaningful change happen. A clear example of this is her significant contribution to the development of LNER’s Menopause Toolkit. Working collaboratively with EDI colleagues and brand team, Clare helped shape a resource that is practical, accessible and relevant for colleagues. She also played a role in supporting the development of the Menopause Action Plan, helping ensure menopause remains a visible and important part of LNER’s inclusion agenda. The impact of her work is wide-reaching. Clare was instrumental in the delivery of the Women to Women Mentoring Programme, supporting its development and implementation, helping to source mentors, support participants and contribute to the programme's success. The initiative has enabled women across the business to build confidence, develop their careers and strengthen their professional networks. Clare’s influence also extends beyond LNER. As a committee member for Women in Rail and through her involvement in the launch of a national book club, she has helped create opportunities for learning, discussion and connection across the rail industry. Alongside her many contributions, Clare is known for her collaborative and inclusive approach. She works constructively with colleagues, encourages open dialogue and helps create an environment where people feel valued and supported. Her commitment is driven not by profile or recognition, but by a genuine desire to contribute to lasting, meaningful change for others. On a personal level, she has also been a huge support to me and to ManKind, our men’s network focused on mental health and wellbeing. She actively supports the work we are doing, offering both challenge and encouragement, and demonstrates what genuine allyship looks like by supporting both women and men. Clare has consistently contributed to discussions and initiatives focused on important and often challenging topics, including menstruation, menopause, and violence against women and girls. Through her involvement, she has helped support efforts to raise awareness, encourage open conversations and strengthen the practical support available to colleagues. More recently, she has been involved in work relating to safeguarding for vulnerable passengers, bringing a thoughtful and constructive perspective, asking important questions and helping to ensure customer experiences and needs are considered throughout the development process. She has also contributed to conversations around guidance and support aimed at helping passengers access assistance and feel safer when travelling. Clare has made these contributions alongside her day job, demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting others and improving experiences for colleagues and customers alike. She approaches her work with authenticity, collaboration and a willingness to help wherever she can. Combined with her ability to positively influence those around her and contribute to meaningful change, this makes her a highly deserving nominee.

Steve has made an exceptional impact on the health and wellbeing of his colleagues through his role as a Mental Health First Aider. Steve is a passionate advocate for mental wellbeing and has become a trusted source of support for colleagues in Cardiff Central. He consistently goes above and beyond his day-to-day responsibilities to ensure those around him feel supported, valued, and able to access help when they need it most. His commitment to creating a positive, caring, and inclusive workplace culture has had a profound and lasting impact on the teams he works with. As a Mental Health First Aider, Steve is often one of the first people colleagues turn to during difficult times. Whether offering a listening ear, providing guidance towards appropriate support services, or simply checking in on someone's wellbeing, he approaches every interaction with empathy, professionalism, and genuine compassion. His ability to create a safe and supportive environment allows colleagues to speak openly about their challenges, helping to remove the stigma that can often surround mental health. Steve's dedication extends far beyond responding to those who seek support. He actively promotes wellbeing across the workplace, encouraging open conversations about mental health and ensuring colleagues understand that support is available. By leading through example, he has helped foster a culture where people feel comfortable reaching out for help and looking out for one another. The positive influence Steve has had on individuals and teams cannot be overstated. His kindness, understanding, and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of others have made a real difference to the lives of many colleagues. Through his actions, he has strengthened team morale, improved wellbeing awareness, and helped create a workplace where people genuinely feel cared for and supported. Steve embodies the very spirit of this award through his selfless dedication to supporting others, and he is thoroughly deserving of recognition for the outstanding contribution he continues to make to the health, wellbeing, and resilience of our colleagues.

This team has delivered a sustained programme of groundbreaking innovation which fundamentally improve rail performance, safety, efficiency, and long‑term sustainability through bold, low‑cost, and highly impactful technological and operational advancements. Spanning performance improvement, electrical safety, digital asset management, and decarbonisation, these innovations have delivered demonstrable benefits to customers, operators, and the workforce while shaping the future direction of the rail industry. A defining example of innovation was the development and deployment of ‘de-mesh’ button. Persistent overhead line equipment (OLE) trips had long constrained service reliability. The development and rollout of the “de‑mesh” button for Electrical Control Operators fundamentally changed incident response. This simple but innovative system dramatically reduced response and recovery times within the critical 0–24‑minute window, delivering sustained train performance benefits at minimal cost. Through technical excellence, strategic leadership and collaborative delivery, the team has challenged long-standing industry practices to create safer, more efficient and sustainable solutions with national significance. Operating across a complex electrified railway, the team was responsible for assurance and delivery of a £79.6 million electrification renewals portfolio and a £35.5 million Electrical Safety Delivery Programme. Recognising the need to improve workforce protection while enhancing efficiency and reliability, the team developed innovative engineering solutions that address some of the rail industry's most critical challenges. A flagship achievement was the national leadership of Optimised Earthing, a groundbreaking approach to electrical isolation that significantly improves the safety of frontline staff working on or near the electrified railway. By reducing exposure to electrical hazards and improving compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations, the innovation delivers safer and more efficient isolation arrangements. Magnetic earths which can be erected at any structure were developed through extensive technical assurance, stakeholder engagement and rigorous testing. Optimised Earthing has established a new benchmark for electrical safety across the network with work teams being able to work in sight of their protecting earth. Building on this success, the team also led the development of Remote Securing technology, an innovative intervention that reduces the need for manual interaction with live electrical infrastructure. By enabling safer and more controlled isolation processes, Remote Securing enhances workforce protection, improves operational resilience and supports more efficient maintenance delivery. Together, these innovations represent a significant step change in how electrical safety is managed across the railway. The team's innovation extended beyond safety interventions. Working collaboratively with industry partners and manufacturers, they delivered the introduction of composite pantograph horns, a national first that challenged traditional design approaches. This innovative technology offers improved reliability, reduced whole-life costs and enhanced operational performance, creating a platform for wider adoption across future electrification schemes. The team have pioneered and continue to champion many initiatives which will drive down the cost of future electrification including voltage controlled clearance and the use of steeper gradients to avoid unnecessary bridge reconstructions. This teams with partial electrification support to industry partners is again ground breaking alongside battery train technology. In parallel, the team challenged historic electrification design by radically changing the design delivery model for Severn Tunnel Rigid Overhead Contact System project only months before the delivery blockade to ensure the right innovative solution was bravely developed. Through evidence-led engineering and technical innovation, they identified the correct solution and implemented it. This work will revolutionise how we electrify tunnels in the future. The team also aligned research and development activity with strategic asset management objectives, championing innovations in remote condition monitoring, train-borne analytics and improved asset data capabilities. These initiatives support the transition from reactive maintenance to predictive, data-driven asset management, delivering improvements in reliability, resource efficiency and long-term sustainability. What makes this submission exceptional is not a single innovation, but a culture of innovation embedded across the team. By combining engineering expertise with creativity and collaboration, the Wales & Western Electrification Asset Management team and Programme Management team has delivered solutions that improve safety, efficiency, sustainability and operational performance. Their work has influenced industry thinking, challenged established practices and created scalable innovations capable of delivering benefits across the rail network for years to come, making them worthy recipients of the Innovation & Technology Team of the Year Award. 

Fiona was driving a train back to Eastbourne when she came across a trespasser. The person in question was clearly in a bad place and on the tracks. Fiona secured her train safely and began speaking to the individual to offer him support. The individual continued to discuss how they wished to endanger their own life, but Fiona continued to offer support to the individual to ensure they were looked after. The individual walked away and placed themselves in a more dangerous position. Fiona continued to speak with them and continued her words of support. Fortunately, this helped convince the young individual that they could trust Fiona and they eventually joined her in the safety of the train. Fiona kept them safe and supported until the emergency services arrived. Despite being faced with a life threatening situation, Fiona's calm, kind and caring response not only allowed to her to save the life of someone threatening to end their own, but in a manner which ensured the safety of her passengers and herself. This situation is very difficult to consider facing, but Fiona did so with empathy, compassion and professionalism and it's without doubt her input saved the life of the individual that day.

I'm recognising William Hastings for his outstanding bravery, quick thinking, and compassionate response during a critical incident on the Lanark Branch overnight shift on the 1st of April this year. While carrying out a routine track inspection, William came across a seriously injured member of the public who had been struck by the last train of the night. Despite the shock of the situation, William remained calm and took immediate action to help save the person’s life. His response went far beyond the expectations of his role and showed incredible courage and care in a life-threatening situation. William’s actions had a direct and life-saving impact. The injured person had suffered severe trauma to their hand and arm and was at serious risk of bleeding to death and developing hypothermia due to prolonged exposure. William acted quickly, using his own jumper to stem the bleeding and applying first aid from the kit in his vehicle to stabilise the injury. Recognising the risk of cold exposure, he also retrieved additional clothing from the vehicle to help keep the individual warm while waiting for emergency services. He remained with the injured person, offering reassurance and care, and ensured that emergency medical assistance was called without delay. When paramedics arrived, they confirmed that William’s swift and calm response had been critical in saving the person’s life. Even after the emergency services had taken over, William’s focus remained on safety. Aware that the injured person had accessed the railway infrastructure, he immediately checked the integrity of the boundary measures in the area to identify any potential breach points. Although it was later confirmed that the individual had gained access from the station platform, William’s instinctive response — despite just having dealt with a traumatic event — was to prevent any further risk to others. His actions reflect a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to protecting both the public and the railway network. William’s conduct is a powerful example of the vital role our frontline staff play in safeguarding lives and infrastructure. He exemplifies the highest standards of safety, vigilance, and humanity.