FirstGroup acknowledges that to fully understand the needs of its customers and to deliver the best possible service, its workforce must reflect the diversity of the communities they serve, regardless of gender or any other characteristic.
To support female managers in preparing for more senior leadership jobs, FirstGroup launched the ‘Step Forward’ women’s development programme, and already 45% of participants have been promoted since its launch in 2020.
Claire Morgan, GWR Regional Station Manager, took part in the programme, achieving a permanent appointment to a more senior strategic role with accountability for more than 50 train stations. Thanks to the programme, Claire was able to expand her network with other senior women in the business while also receiving coaching and management training.
Claire said: “The Step Forward programme challenged my way of thinking and in turn, how I approached my new role. I learned through shared knowledge and experience of fellow participants, and I developed relationships with colleagues that I would not normally have had the opportunity to meet. I appreciated the time built into the course which allowed me to reflect on my own personal career journey.”
Alongside this, as part of a commitment to support and develop more women to move into higher paid roles, FirstGroup runs the ‘Step Up’ programme providing support specifically for women seeking their first line management position. Since its launch in 2019, more than 180 women have attended, and already 27% have been promoted into higher paid roles and the cohort is continuing to grow.
Cat Hyde, who held roles within FirstGroup as a bid coordinator and then an engineering project coordinator, went on to secure a promotion thanks to the ‘Step Up’ programme.
Cat said: “Without this course I never would have realised my full potential. Step Up gave me the confidence I needed to realise that the skills I had were both valuable and transferable, to apply for roles I thought way out of reach, and to ultimately give me the tools and self-esteem boost that I’d been lacking all along to help me thrive in my career.”
In addition to these programmes, FirstGroup has also committed to increasing female applicants through targeted measures, successfully increasing the proportion of female applicants by 10.3% and the proportion of female hires by 78.5% since reporting started in 2017. The organisation is encouraging women to stay and develop by offering more flexible employment policies while also ensuring men are more aware and equipped to play their part in creating an inclusive workplace which is welcoming to women. This includes training for management on how to ensure an inclusive workplace, supported by an awareness campaign and a diversity and inclusion e-learning modules.
Since 2020, First Group has almost doubled the number of women it employs in the UK, increasing the proportion of female hires despite the pandemic. The median gender pay gap for 2021 shows that at FirstGroup, women’s average hourly pay is 1.2% higher than men’s, which compares positively to the UK national average of 15.4% in favour of men.