Apeksha Naik
19 Oct 2026
Next Stop Your Future 2026
The latest Next Stop Your Future (NSYF) Celebration Event brought together learners, mentors, managers, sponsors, EDI and Talent Leads and colleagues from across the railway to celebrate six months of learning, reflection, challenge and development.
The event marked an important milestone for 17 learners in the programme’s second cross-industry cohort, recognising their achievements while encouraging them to think about what comes next. The message throughout the event was clear: completing the programme is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of the next stage of participants’ career development.
Creating opportunities and opening doors
Next Stop - Your Future was created to address barriers to progression by helping railway colleagues develop their confidence and skills while gaining greater access to professional networks and career opportunities.
Apeksha Naik, Industry Inclusion and Belonging Lead and Co-Chair of Rail Unites for Inclusion who Co-Founded the programme alongside Gamiel Yafai – CEO of Diversity Marketplace, who opened the event, reflected on how the programme has evolved since the first cohort, a train-the-trainer programme, pilot delivery then finally it’s current second cross-industry programme. Participants were encouraged to use the connections and knowledge they have developed to create opportunities for themselves and others. Apeksha thanked the Department of Transport for hosting the event and all the key players that had made the programme successful from the development of the programme through to this celebration event of the second industry cohort. Key people involved included Gamiel Yafai, Jiten Patel, Odis Palmer, Dante Frederick, Andrew Manning, Joy Semugooma, Saheeb Hussain, Courtney Muller, Chris Braisby, Boris Howell, Tracey Bezuidenhout, Barbara Harahwa, Leanne Illman, Elle Rogers, Rob Mullen, Ola Ogun, Ben Llewellyn. Special thanks went to Saheeb and Courtney who facilitated the second industry programme of Next Stop – Your Future.
A strong theme throughout the celebration was the importance of turning development into action.
Rob Mullen, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, GBR Anglia encouraged learners to identify a practical next step following the programme, whether that means having a conversation with someone working in an area they are interested in, exploring a new opportunity, seeking mentoring or gaining experience elsewhere in the railway.
Learners were also reminded that careers do not always follow a straight path. Being prepared to take opportunities, try something different and step outside your comfort zone can all form part of personal and professional growth.
Confidence to take the next step
The impact of the programme came through particularly strongly in the experiences shared by current learners and alumni.
Participants spoke about developing greater self-awareness, confidence, curiosity and career ambition, with learners describing how the programme had encouraged them to apply for opportunities, attend interviews, explore different areas of the railway and pursue shadowing and mentoring opportunities.
The programme's Insights Cards exercise was highlighted as especially valuable. Participants heard how feedback from colleagues helped them recognise strengths that they had not necessarily seen in themselves.
Mentoring and coaching were another important part of the experience. Learners described receiving encouragement, challenge, interview preparation and feedback from mentors, coaches and supportive managers, helping them see how the experience they already possessed could translate into future roles.
Alumni showing what is possible
Alumni Adriana Jankowska and Bobbette Henry shared examples of how their experiences on the programme had influenced their development.
Adriana described progressing into an onboard services manager role covering Paddington, London and Oxford. She also spoke about developing her communication skills, using techniques learned through the programme in workplace conversations and becoming more willing to speak publicly.
Bobbette reflected on recognising that leadership is about initiative, support and impact rather than simply having a particular job title. Her journey included moving into team leadership at London Bridge, developing her communication and decision-making skills and leading the first Black History Month launch there through her role chairing the Out of Many, One People Committee. She also shared her ambition to develop towards a career in HR.
Their stories demonstrated that progression can take different forms and that building confidence, experience and skills can be just as important as a change in job title.
The power of an inclusive network
Saheeb Hussain and Courtney Muller led a panel session with 4 learners on the programme – Stuart Jones, Sophie Thrower, Emily Gumo and Aarinola Idowu-Titus.
A recurring theme on the panel, was the value of bringing people together from different roles, organisations and backgrounds.
Learners described the mixed cohort as creating space for open conversations and helping them recognise that people across the industry can experience similar challenges in their careers. The programme was intentionally designed to provide a non-judgemental environment where colleagues could develop without labels becoming barriers.
Participants highlighted networking, mentoring, coaching, career reflection, role shadowing and exposure to different railway functions as particularly valuable parts of the programme.
Turning learning into workplace opportunities
Importantly, through outputs from a breakout session that took place, there was recognition that career progression cannot rest with individuals alone.
Managers, sponsors and senior colleagues were encouraged to help create environments in which participants can put their development into practice. Suggestions included offering stretching assignments, making introductions, providing constructive feedback and involving colleagues in conversations and opportunities that could increase their visibility and experience.
One mentor reflected positively on their mentoring experience, describing the relationship as mutually valuable and demonstrating that mentoring can provide learning for both mentor and mentee.
Participants also discussed some of the practical challenges experienced during the programme. These included finding time for mentor and learner meetings, aligning expectations with managers, securing sufficient release time from operational roles, matching people with appropriate development support and ensuring frontline colleagues have suitable access to equipment and online learning materials.
These insights provide valuable learning for future development of such programmes.
Looking towards the future railway
The breakout discussions also looked beyond the current cohort.
Participants considered how the programme’s impact might be replicated locally so that learning does not remain confined to a single cohort.
This reflects a wider ambition raised during the event: creating a railway where colleagues have the confidence, networks and opportunities to progress, and where the future workforce more closely reflects the customers and communities it serves.
Apeksha thanked all those who had facilitated the breakouts and who had taken notes as well as those who had provided feedback which included Learners on each table who were given the opportunity to share their views to the audience as well to give them more visibility.
From celebration to action
Before leaving the event, learners, managers, mentors and allies were encouraged by Saheeb to identify a practical action to take within the next 30 days.
For learners, that could mean pursuing an opportunity, starting a conversation or maintaining an important connection. For managers, mentors and sponsors, it could mean opening a door, making an introduction or giving somebody the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do.
The celebration concluded with certificates, photographs and further networking, recognising the achievements of the 17 learners while reinforcing one of the event’s strongest messages: the real impact of Next Stop Your Future will be seen in what happens next.