Leeds College of Building Apprentice, Jemma Gillman, has been named Female Apprentice of the Year at the national Women in Rail Awards 2019.
Jemma, a Transport Planning Apprentice at HS2 Ltd, fought off stiff competition in industry and was crowned the winner of the BAM Nuttall-sponsored award. It was presented at the second-ever Women in Rail Awards ceremony held at the historic Roundhouse in Camden.
Hosted by Rachel Riley (television presenter, numbers expert on Channel 4’s long-running quiz show Countdown and STEM ambassador), the Women in Rail Awards aim to showcase and reward individuals and companies who have made a significant contribution to improving gender balance, diversity, and inclusion in the UK railway industry.
"If I can help women in other industries realise that they can have a job they can enjoy in STEM careers, I would feel like I have achieved something great."
- Jemma Gillman, Apprentice of the Year
The Awards were attended by a cross section of the UK railway industry, including key stakeholders and decision makers, infrastructure providers, operators, manufacturers, rolling stock companies, technical consultancy companies and suppliers.
Jemma joined HS2 as a transport planning apprentice in September 2017. Since joining the company, Jemma has shared her passion for transport with young women through being an active member of the Young Apprentice Ambassador Network, a STEM Ambassador, a mentor for a Community Apprentice programme which HS2 runs with the charity Envision and a founding member of the HS2 Gender Balance Network.
Jemma said:
“In work, I supported the Project Manager on the second largest highway-condition survey project and create a library of safety and values moments, to ensure that every meeting began by promoting safety, something which is becoming best practice in the construction industry.
I am also the Co-Vice Chair for the West Midlands Young Apprentice Ambassadors Network, where we promote the benefits of apprenticeships, as some students don’t see them as an alternative to University.
The shortlist seemed very competitive, so I was shocked to have won! If I can help women in other industries realise that they can have a job they can enjoy in STEM careers, I would feel like I have achieved something great.”
