The NEC isn’t the obvious place for the forces of magic and sorcery to place their portal into the mortal realm, but visitors to the RailStaff Awards this year will have the opportunity to peer through this gateway and enjoy an other-worldly experience.
Passengers may not feel that their daily commute could be the muse for a celebrated literary work, but the romance of the railway has inspired creative minds since the dawn of steam and has been the setting for numerous tales of mystery and wonder.
This year, the RailStaff Awards has an Enchanted theme, and we’ll be spinning our own bewitching tale of dedication and diligence overcoming adversity.
Heroes
The best fairytales need a fearless hero to banish the forces of evil and return peace to a sovereign kingdom. We’ll be lucky enough to have 20.
The search for our 2018 heroes is still underway and there is still time to nominate someone you work with. The awards is open to everyone in the industry and recognises the achievements of both the most experienced professionals and those at the very start of their careers.
Each of the winners will subsequently feature in RailStaff and their story shared outside of the industry to demonstrate the incredible work that railway staff are undertaking every single day.
Time to nominate
The evening itself will follow a similar format to previous years.
The awards will follow a programme of live entertainment and a three-course meal provided by multi-award-winning caterer Amadeus.
More than 300 nominations have been submitted so far. Those that meet our entry criteria will go through to a public vote and an expert panel of senior industry figures will choose the winners from a focused shortlist.
The judges will base their decision on a broad range of criteria, including bravery, approachability, dedication, initiative and professionalism.
Tom O’Connor, managing director of Rail Media, said: “While the real stars of the show have always been our industry colleagues, we really want the event to be something that none of our guests will ever forget.
“There are still a couple of months left to nominate someone, whether it’s a member of a team you manage or an overlooked colleague who has never received the recognition they deserve.
“Go on the website, fill in the nomination form and give someone the chance to be celebrated by their peers. It’s been a challenging year for the railway community; let’s give everyone something to feel positive about.”
Read more: Getting ready for the Digital Railway
