We were proud to be invited by Southeastern to join them at the House of Commons for the launch of their Social Mobility Action Plan.
Southeastern said:-
On 4 March, Southeastern, in partnership with the Purpose Coalition, launched its Social Mobility Action Plan in Parliament. We were privileged to be joined by the chair of the Purpose Coalition, former Transport Secretary the Rt. Hon Justine Greening, Chris Loder MP (who has worked in the rail industry for many years) and several of our apprentices and Prince’s Trust colleagues. The report outlines our commitment to fostering social mobility, addressing the barriers to opportunity identified by the Coalition’s Purpose Goals, including promoting well-being and supporting local businesses.
We are delighted to become the first UK rail operator to publish a Social Mobility Action Plan.
As a socially responsible company, Southeastern prioritises the well-being of our employees, customers, and communities. We demonstrate this commitment through various initiatives, including:
- Building a talent pipeline: We offer work placements and specialized apprenticeships to cultivate future talent and equip them with industry-relevant skills.
- Promoting gender diversity: We strive to attract and retain more women in our workforce, both in leadership and other roles, through improved career paths and well-being programs.
The report also proposes key recommendations to bolster our social impact:
- Championing mental health awareness: We aim to provide leadership and advocacy for mental health support within the industry.
- Fostering internal mobility and inclusivity: We commit to enhancing internal progression opportunities, focusing on promoting gender diversity and embracing neurodiversity.
- Building an early talent pipeline: We plan to expand our community outreach initiatives by collaborating with schools, colleges, and further education institutions in underprivileged areas.
- Leading on regional health and wellbeing: We aim to become a regional leader in promoting health and well-being, collaborating with other local partners.
We have adopted these recommendations, which will be the focus of our efforts over the coming year.
You can read the full policy document here.
Managing Director of Southeastern, Steve White went on to discuss the new initiative in a podcast hosted by Christian Wolmar. Listen in here from 21:27.
