Making Track History: How GWR is Championing Race Equality Week

At VERCIDA, we love partnering with employers who don’t just talk about "inclusion" but actually build it into the daily commute of their workplace culture. This week, Great Western Railway (GWR) is doing exactly that.

From February 2–6, GWR is marking Race Equality Week by empowering their teams to turn empathy into action. Through their internal employee-led network, REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage), the business is diving headfirst into the Race Equality Matter’s 5-Day Challenge.

Small Steps, Big Impact

Change doesn't always require an eight-hour seminar. GWR knows that consistency is key, which is why they’ve launched the program of 5–10 minute bite-sized learning sessions. Hosted on their internal learning platform, these challenges are accessible to every colleague, allowing them to dip in and out whenever they have a moment—even after this week concludes.

What’s on the agenda? The week covers the "everyday" experiences that shape how we feel at work:

• Allyship: How to stand up for others effectively
• Stereotyping: Unpacking the assumptions we make
• The Bystander Effect: Learning how to move from watching to helping

Why This Matters for Your Career

In a safety-critical and customer-facing industry like rail, fairness and trust are the tracks we run on. When a team feels respected and the processes feel fair, engagement and performance naturally skyrocket.

GWR’s Executive team is leading from the front, filming their own personal reflections on these topics to show that inclusion starts at the very top. Monday the 2nd February kicked off with a deep dive into Stereotyping, setting the tone for a culture that values the individual over the assumption.

"The short, accessible sessions are not about having all the answers but about recognising the role we each play in creating fairness, calling out bias, and supporting one another."

Join a Team That Values Your Heritage

Are you looking for a workplace where you can bring your whole self to work? GWR is actively looking for talent that reflects the diverse communities they serve. By joining the REACH network or simply participating in these challenges, you become part of a movement towards a more equitable future in transport.

Ready to start your journey with an inclusive employer?