RSSB’s partnership with The Talent Foundry and Network Rail is ‘Highly Commended’ at the 2025 Business Charity Awards
The award celebrates their joint focus on boosting social mobility and creating opportunities for young people in the rail industry.
The partnership sees RSSB collaborating with The Talent Foundry and Network Rail, among others.
The Talent Foundry is a charity dedicated to unlocking potential in young individuals. Network Rail is the infrastructure manager for most of the GB rail network.
The joint programme has been lauded for its sizable contribution to social value within the industry.
Boosting interest and employability
RSSB is committed to fostering interest in rail careers while also inspiring young people from underserved communities.
The initiatives recognised by the Business Charity Awards—'Track to the Future’ and ‘Lightbulb Moments’—connect young people with major employers. They also provide mentorship and coaching to build confidence and professional networks.
The impact of programmes like these has been huge. Over 2,300 students have been engaged in the past year alone. Of those, 93% now have a strong understanding of career opportunities within the rail industry. Also, 87% report feeling more confident in their employability skills.
‘The power of collaboration’
Tom Hall is RSSB’s Social Sustainability Principal. He expressed his delight at the award, stating, ‘The programme with The Talent Foundry clearly demonstrates the power of collaboration across the rail sector’.
He further highlighted the joint effort of numerous industry partners in ‘engaging young people in a consistent and effective way, while also showcasing the diverse range of roles available.’ Those partners are:
- Alstom
- Arriva Rail London
- CAF
- East Midlands Railway
- Govia Thameslink Railway
- HS1
- Northern
- Porterbrook
- TransPennine Route Upgrade.
Tom also acknowledged the high calibre of the competition at the awards.
He went on to say that the commendation ‘reflects the impact of our collective approach.’
Indeed, this accolade underlines the shared mission of all those involved to make the rail industry more accessible to young people from underserved communities.
The recognition from the Business Charity Awards is a welcome validation of this vital work.
What’s next?
The Talent Foundry, Network Rail, and others will continue working towards creating a more inclusive future for the rail industry. The goal is to cultivate a more diverse, skilled, and future-ready workforce for the sector.
These programmes have been renewed for 2025/26, with more partnering organisations joining.