It’s time to “sell, sell, sell” the incredible job opportunities the industry has to offer.

The rail industry provides a breadth and depth of opportunity that few other industries can offer – but it needs to start shouting about them. That’s the view of Worldline COO James Bain who is passionate in his belief that “you can be anything you want to be in the rail ecosystem”.

Roles from civil engineering to AI, and every role in between will help create a railway fit for the needs of future generations. But it will take fresh thinking that only comes from attracting a wider, more diverse workforce to be the catalyst for the greatest challenge ever to face the industry. James says: “We have to attract talent and sell, sell, sell why it’s a cool place to work. We need to look forward and focus on the societal benefits that rail can bring.”

Worldline is a torchbearer for the industry when it comes to opening pathways for school leavers, graduates and career changers to break into the rail and wider transportation industry. Junior Software Developer Ryan Boughton-Shields is one of many success stories for the global payments leader and epitomises their open-minded approach to attracting new skillsets.

“Most firms wanted coding experience from people applying for software developer apprenticeships, but Worldline was looking for potential, attitude and enthusiasm which is so refreshing,” he says. It’s why the business is actively backing the Railway 200 celebrations with sponsorship to update its Routes into Rail website.

Ryan adds: “We need different people with non-traditional skills to bring new and better ways of doing things. Re-nationalisation will mean a big shake up where fresh ideas will be vital so supporting people on their journey into rail is crucial.”

The initiative, backed by Network Rail, the National Skills Academy for Rail (NSAR), TOCs and engineering and infrastructure firms, aims to address a skills shortage in the industry to build a diverse, inclusive and future-ready workforce.

Neil Robertson, NSAR’S CEO, says: “We have to fully understand and address the number of important people and skills issues at play in the rail sector that could potentially hold it back.

“Our skills shortages and talent gaps, our lack of diversity and our industry’s poor perception amongst younger people are well known, but less well understood. By shedding a light on these vital issues, we can identify the solutions that will truly make a difference.”

The routesintorail.org website offers clear descriptions of engineering, operations, customer service, project management and a range of roles that job-seekers might not instantly associate with rail. As well as signposting visitors to apprenticeships, traineeships and apprenticeship schemes like Worldline's, there is a strong emphasis on people returning to work and underrepresented groups who might not have considered a career in rail. Colleges and schools can also find a useful toolkit that supports career guidance and raises awareness of the wide-ranging opportunities in rail.

Worldline’s involvement in the awareness campaign, which James Bain insists will be essential to ensuring rail’s survival, doesn’t end there. We’ve also sponsored thousands of schoolchildren’s visits to the Bluebell Railway in Sussex as part of Railway 200 as well as supporting the Inspiration Train on its journey around the UK. The train features four outfitted carriages each telling the story of rail’s past, present, and future through exhibits, interactive features and a careers area to encourage people to consider a future in rail.

More than 30,000 visitors, many of them children, had visited the interactive mobile museum up to October this year – all leaving with an insight into rail’s history and innovation-fuelled through engineering, technology and environmental sustainability. James, who visited the train on one of its year-long stops at 60 locations across England, Scotland and Wales, says the name has been chosen well.

“It’s truly inspirational. You only have to look at the faces of the people who have jumped on board to see that,” he says. “The Inspiration Train and Routes into Rail show off the opportunities available and are critical. If we don’t inspire the younger generation and people with new ideas and look to leave the world in a better place than we found it, we’re failing.”

He adds: “Anyone reading this needs to know the rail industry is a great place to work and it will give you massive opportunities if you put commitment into it.”

Watch James Bain’s plea for new ideas and fresh thinking in the rail industry here.