National Inclusion Week 2026

National Inclusion Week Event Sparks Industry-Wide Commitment to Collaboration and Inclusion

Rail industry colleagues, employee networks and inclusion champions came together during the RUI and EDI Charter National Inclusion Week online event to share ideas, challenges and opportunities for creating a more inclusive railway. The event focused on five key themes: Inspire, Hire, Learn, Grow and Connect, with participants agreeing that the conversations should continue long after National Inclusion Week through collaboration across organisations, networks and communities.

Across all breakout sessions, several common priorities emerged. Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships with schools, colleges, charities and community organisations; improving accessibility in recruitment; increasing visibility of the diverse career opportunities available within rail; and creating workplaces where people feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

The discussions explored a wide range of inclusion topics including family and carers, men’s wellbeing, Armed Forces, social mobility, religion and faith, LGBTQ+ inclusion, ethnicity, neurodiversity, disability, gender equity and youth engagement. Each group shared practical ideas to help attract talent from underrepresented communities, improve workplace experiences and strengthen support networks across the industry. Highlights included stronger outreach to schools and communities, more inclusive recruitment processes, greater leadership visibility, enhanced wellbeing support, increased collaboration between employee networks, and broader career pathways for young people and career changers.

A recurring message throughout the event was the value of sharing best practice and learning from one another. Participants committed to building on existing initiatives, promoting cross-network collaboration and creating opportunities for continued engagement through RUI, the EDI Charter and industry-wide inclusion networks.

The event concluded with a shared commitment to maintaining momentum beyond National Inclusion Week, ensuring that inclusion remains a continuous journey across the rail industry rather than a one-off conversation.