The extraordinary work of the rail industry’s unsung heroes was recognised on Thursday 24 November, as the RailStaff Awards returned in style at Birmingham’s NEC.

On 24th November 2022, The RailStaff Awards, hosted their awards evening at their Ski Resort, which wowed all in attendance. From rail managers to customer service assistants, apprentices to training managers, the full breadth and depth of job roles were represented at the Awards, which received a record 143,000 votes to decide the finalists. The RailStaff Awards has been recognising the achievements of rail industry employees since 2007. The ceremony shows appreciation for the people who deliver the railway – from drivers to cleaners, and engineers to station staff. Often these are stories of lives saved, careers turned around, and adversity conquered.

The occasion was another huge success for the RailStaff Awards. Adam O’Connor, Managing Director of Rail Media said:

“I have been absolutely overjoyed to once again invite the rail industry to the RailStaff Awards 2022 after putting it on hold for the last couple of years. From gauging feedback from multiple guests, it has been made clear that the event has been missed and that attendees see it as ‘the’ rail event of the calendar.
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Matchtech and Resourcing Solutions were thrilled to sponsor the Rail person of the Year Award. As one of the rail recruiters in the UK, our complementary offering ensures excellent coverage across both design and site works, with Matchtech focusing on professional services experts and Resourcing Solutions specialising in site-based project delivery talent.

The Rail Person of the Year Award is designed to recognise those within the industry who excel at what they do, and as a business that is dedicated to connecting talent with leading companies in the rail industry, we understand the value of exceptional people. This year, we looked for inspiring people, who go above and beyond to deliver excellence in the rail industry.

The 2022 Rail Person of Year award was presented to Amy ‘Bessie’ Matthews. Amy is an invaluable member of the Freightliner group, with her passion and enthusiasm, she has had a massive impact on the company and her team members. Amy joined Freightliner on 16th August 2021 as a trainee shunt driver based out of their Southampton operation. Whilst taking on a new role and the extensive training that entails, she also seized the opportunity to participate in other activities including playing an active role in the recently formed Freightliner female Train Driver’s forum. This is a well-deserved win for Amy’s continuous contribution to not only herself but to Freightliner too.

Matchtech & RSL would like to thank the RailStaff Awards for hosting and creating such an incredible event showcasing inspiring and passionate winners and nominees. A thank you also goes to those who engaged with the awards process, whether that was through judging, voting, or attending the ceremony. And finally, congratulations to all the winners, who are an inspiration to all.