13 Jan 2015
Fifty-one per cent of family doctors in England are female, according to the latest Government data.
Meanwhile the Law Society reports 49% of solicitors are women.
These levels of gender equality, however, are poles apart from another profession - driving trains.
Being a train driver has long been considered a boyhood dream and man's vocation. And shockingly, the UK statistics still back up this assumption. The ASLEF union puts the proportion of female drivers at just 4.5%.
But one UK train company is bucking this trend.
More than 40% of drivers at Heathrow Express, the premium airport train service, are women - a higher proportion than any other UK train company. Of the 84 train drivers employed by the firm, 34, or 40.5%, are female.
Heathrow Express driver Kirsty Sando, 28, recently promoted to driver performance manager, said: “I first qualified as a driver just over three years ago. I love this job and now I'm managing and assessing others in the role.
"Any suggestion that being a train driver is a man's domain is as laughable as claiming girls all grow up wanting to be hair dressers."
Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “The UK's railways are growing and we are investing record amounts in the network to meet this demand. It is an incredibly exciting time to work in the rail industry, and there is no shortage of opportunities for women.
“It is great to see the female drivers at Heathrow Express leading the way, and I hope other women are inspired by their example.
Fiona Tice, head of human resources for Heathrow Express, said: "We have by far the highest proportion of female drivers in the UK rail industry. I hope this inspires more women to follow their careers and dreams, whether it's driving a train, being an astronaut or sitting on the board of a blue-chip company."
Heathrow Express is a non-stop airport train service from London Paddington. Taking just 15 minutes and running every 15 minutes, it is the fastest way to travel between central London and Heathrow.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
Heathrow Express train drivers - overall 84: 34 female (40.5%), 50 male.
- Six driver instructors - four female, two male
- Three current driver trainees - two female, one male
- Six driver performance managers - two female four male
· ***ASLEF union data: http://www.aslef.org.uk/files/132894/FileName/IER-ASLEFDiversityReportproof5.pdf
· **Law Society data: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/law-careers/becoming-a-solicitor/entry-trends/
· *Health and Social Care Informational Centre data: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/4174/Annual-census-headcount-figures-shows-increased-numbers-in-the-NHS-workforce-compared-to-last-year
Additional quote:
Keith Harding, operations director for Heathrow Express and a former train driver with 36 years' experience in the rail industry, said: "Gone are the days of men being train drivers and women being secretaries. We're no longer in the 1950s."
Background on Kirsty Sando – Heathrow Express train driver performance manager
Why did you want to become a train driver?
I didn't ever want to be a train driver until I joined Heathrow Express. I went to university and qualified as a primary school teacher. I joined HEx as an on-train customer service representative (CSR). I was then encouraged to go for driving. Driving seemed quite glamorous and I needed more of a challenge and responsibility, so I went for it. The application process and the six-month course was definitely the challenge I was looking for.
Why does (did) it suit your life (eg kids/family/other)?
The shift pattern suits my life as it allows me to have free time to socialise. My best friend has two young children, so I get to spend time with them in the daytime during the week. It's also great because I don't have to do my shopping with everyone else on the weekends!
Why Heathrow Express? Did you try other rail firms? Why did HEx stand out?
Heathrow Express appealed to me because the airport is so close to where I live. Working for HEx was actually my first full-time job, so I didn't ever consider another rail company. I enjoy the friendly and social atmosphere we have here. I think it would be very difficult to find that at other rail companies. HEx has always been different because, for a rail company, there is a good mix of men and women, so I've always felt like I fit in.
Twitter: @heathrowexpress
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeathrowExpress
Media contacts:
Sarah Johnson: Lotus UK + 44 207 953 7470: sarah@lotus-uk.co.uk
Simon Evans: Heathrow Express + 44 7720 340 660: simon.evans@heathrowexpress.com
