How Rullion Is Supporting the UK Rail Workforce Through Innovation and Events

BLOGBy Rullion on 04 August 2025

From foam-filled team challenges to future-ready rolling stock innovations, explore how Rullion is showing up at key UK rail events to support an inclusive, skilled and future-focused workforce.

This summer, our Rail team hit the ground running. From inflatable obstacle courses and keynote sessions to innovation showcases and heritage celebrations. We’ve been listening, learning and getting stuck in at some of the biggest rail events of 2025.

We attended:

Big Rail Diversity Challenge – Newark Showground

Rail Live – Warwickshire

Rolling Stock Networking Show – Derby

Alstom Railway 200: The Greatest Gathering – Derby

These events are about engaging with the future of UK rail; on the ground, in conversation, and face to face with the people shaping change. Here’s what we took away.

Building Inclusion, On and Off Track

The Big Rail Diversity Challenge blends team-building with big-picture thinking. Organised by Women in Rail, the event aims to drive equality and inclusion by encouraging gender-balanced teams to tackle physical, mental and team challenges. Think foam-based puzzles, inflatable obstacles, and collaboration under pressure.

For our first year taking part, we invited five colleagues from Siemens Mobility to join five of our own people. None of the group had worked together before (which was kind of the point). By the end of the day, that changed.

“I’ve used muscles I’ve not used in years! But I’m buzzing with how everyone got properly involved. That’s the real win.” - Jake, Account Manager, Rullion

“Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday - it was a truly comical event! A shame we didn’t place higher than 28th, but that doesn’t take away from any of our efforts and certainly not the fun we had.” - Ieuan Wynne, Test Engineer, Siemens Mobility

The event also featured short talks, lived experience sessions and a clear message: inclusion isn’t optional, it’s the backbone of a modern rail workforce. It was also a chance for us to reflect on how we build inclusive teams internally and what practical lessons we could take forward.

Our ongoing commitment to inclusion was recently recognised when we received the Driving Equal Opportunity Award from Alstom UK & Ireland.

Innovation and Skills Go Hand-in-Hand

At Rolling Stock Networking (RSN) and Alstom Railway 200, we saw first-hand how the pace of change is reshaping rail, and what that means for skills.

From AI-powered diagnostics and condition-based maintenance to modular carriage design and hybrid traction systems, RSN brought together over 150 exhibitors and thousands of attendees all focused on innovation.

We also joined the RIA conference to hear what’s next for procurement, refurbishment, and fleet decarbonisation.

“Events like RSN are brilliant for sparking ideas. The innovation on show really highlights how workforce skills must keep pace.” - Julian Elmore, Senior Account Manager, Rullion

Meanwhile, Alstom Railway 200 at Derby’s historic Litchurch Lane Works brought the community together for a once-in-a-generation celebration of UK rail. With test track rides, heritage locomotives and next-gen rolling stock on display, it was a powerful reminder of rail’s legacy - and its future.

The message across both events was clear: tech is changing, and so must our approach to building and training rail teams.

What We Heard at Rail Live

At Rail Live, the largest outdoor rail exhibition in the UK, we had the chance to connect with new and long-term partners, including Siemens Mobility.

One of the highlights was seeing the UK’s first Rail Charging Converter (RCC) in action, launched by Siemens in partnership with Porterbrook. It transforms 11kV grid supply into 25kV for battery and electric train charging (a flexible solution for non-electrified lines).

We also joined sessions on policy, engineering, and safety, with big conversations around:

Delays and resets in HS2 Phase Two

Emerging demand for flexible infrastructure skills

The challenge of preparing for change in an aging workforce

62% of UK rail employers cite skills shortages as a major challenge, and 1 in 5 workers is over 55. The need for future-ready skills is urgent.

Turning Insight into Action

We work closely with clients to understand their world and build practical, people-focused solutions. We help people to Get Work Done.

That might mean:

Providing reliable contingent rail staff

Creating fully managed workforce programmes

Running Train to Deploy models that recruit on mindset and train for skills

It’s all about helping the industry respond to change; whether that’s new technologies, safety standards or diversity goals.

Explore stories like Rosie’s, whose 25+ years in rail show the value of neurodiverse-friendly workplaces. Or read how veterans are bridging critical workforce gaps.

Ready to Build the Future of Rail?

Rail is more than a mode of transport, it’s a vital part of the UK’s future. And as the industry grows, we’ll keep showing up, listening carefully, and helping build the teams who will shape what comes next: Explore our Rail Workforce Solutions.

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