What were you doing before you started working at RSS Infrastructure?
“I worked in various job roles before joining the rail sector, from owning my own property maintenance company for around ten years to working in hospitality”.
Have you ever worked in the rail/civils sectors before working at RSS Infrastructure?
“I had never considered going into the rail industry before when my daughter’s neighbour asked if my partner would be interested in exploring this career path. I immediately thought this would be something I could see myself doing, but I was unsure whether women even worked in rail. I knew a friend who worked for RSS Infrastructure (RSSI). After learning more about working on track, I decided to take the plunge and complete various training courses through INFRA Skills, the company’s internal training team”.
What are your job role and responsibilities at RSS Infrastructure?
After attaining my Personal Track Safety competence, the INFRA skills training team identified me as a suitable candidate for a career in the Track Warning Services department. My first shift was in December 2013; I quickly progressed through the department, installing and decommissioning Automatic Track Warning Systems. I have gained many competencies since working for RSSI, and I am now qualified as a; LOWS Operator, LOWS Lookout, LOWS COSS, Point Op, and Safe Works Leader, as well as becoming the UK’s first female Semi-Automatic and Automatic Track Warning System Operator. I have received abundant support from both RSSI and INFRA Skills, always being pushed to upskill myself and gain more competencies within the rail industry.
What I enjoy most about working in rail is the diversity of; the places I work, the people I meet and the projects I work on. I enjoy travelling all over the country working on different projects. I worked on several High Output projects in Scotland, receiving recognition from Senior managers for my outstanding delivery of the ATWS”.
What are your plans for the future, and how will working at RSS Infrastructure help with these plans?
“I have gained many different tickets whilst working for RSSI, and I would like to continue to do so as I progress in the industry, and I am currently interested in completing my LXA training. As I am a fully qualified ATWS Operator, this is the type I work and spend most of my time doing, but I find it is always an advantage to be competent in others areas so I can work on other projects when the demand for ATWS is low. I have recently been considering attaining my GCSE Level 2 in Maths and English also, so in the future, I have the option to study for a degree in Rail Engineering”.
