In April, I was delighted to host the Annual Rail Forum Midlands Parliamentary Reception. The East Midlands Rail Forum represents 180 rail related businesses from the Midlands and beyond, and it was a great opportunity for rail related industries to connect and discuss their businesses. They are important because they play a key role in delivering local initiatives to support the rail supply group strategy. The infrastructure they help to run is of great importance to our everyday lives. This year was extra special because it marks the Year of Engineering by the Department of Transport. The rail industry has several engagement projects to encourage young people to enter their sector including the “Grand Final Challenge.”
I was extremely pleased that on the same day, several rail companies signed the ‘Dying to Work’ Charter, a campaign that I have been supporting, which aims to ensure that terminally ill employees are dealt with dignity and respect. Following this mass signing, it now means that a further 300 employees are now protected adding to the 1 million employees already protected by their employers.