Greater Anglia celebrated International Women’s Day 2026 with a host of events.
Women currently hold 32.68% of management and leadership positions at the company. The latest staff survey data from November 2025 also shows that 84% of female colleagues agree that they can be themselves at work, while 86% say the culture is inclusive for people from all backgrounds and 88% see themselves still working at the company in 12 months’ time.
The company is also making changes to its workplace, with sanitary pads and tampons now provided in every female and mixed-sex staff toilet. The products are supplied by Norfolk based firm Hey Girls and were fully rolled out by January 2026.
Training sessions on menstrual health have also been delivered to staff, while the company has also signed the endometriosis UK pledge, demonstrating its commitment to support any of its workforce with endometriosis.
Greater Anglia has also implemented new policies, including a ‘fertility journey’ policy, which provides paid time off for colleagues who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The policy also provides paid time off for fertility treatment and allows a partner to attend the workplace to support with medication administered via injection if required. Additional paid leave is also available if treatment is unsuccessful.
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The event was organised by Greater Anglia’s UP network group (credit: Greater Anglia)
53 women from Greater Anglia and fellow Essex train operating company c2c, as well as Network Rail, also attended a special event on 3 March at Chelmsford Civic Centre, organised by Greater Anglia’s UP women’s committee.
The event saw motivational speaker Jodi Goldman deliver a session on ‘magnetic confidence’, while Greater Anglia’s Control Manager Paula Wilson and Network Rail’s Programme Director, Natalie Allen, shared insights and stories from their careers in the railway industry.
There was also a session focused on breast cancer awareness.
Pawani Mudalige, Chair of the UP network group and a ticket office colleague at Stansted Airport station, said:
“The International Women’s Day event was fantastic, with our speakers delivering great content whether it was about being more confident at work or their own lessons from their own careers.
“You could really feel the passion in the room with everyone eager to swap stories, network and give support and encouragement to each other.”
Katy Bucknell, Greater Anglia’s HR Director, said:
“The International Women’s Day event was a great way to celebrate the power of the wide array of skills, perspectives and qualities that our women, as well as those of c2c and Network Rail, bring to work every day to keep our railway punctual and safe.”
Greater Anglia, Network Rail and c2c colleagues are also invited to an hour-long online panel on 10 March, with a wide variety of guests including a station manager, head of engineering and assurance, and commercial and business strategy director.
The discussion is designed to challenge assumptions and spark new ideas across the rail industry.
