The backbone of the rail industry is its wonderful workforce. Whether at stations, depots, in offices, or anywhere else in between, rail staff keep the wheels turning. As such, their physical and mental health is critical to the network’s safe and timely operation.
The Health & Wellbeing Person or Team Award celebrates the individuals and teams who have championed outstanding practices in this area through innovative and proactive initiatives, helping others to lead healthier, happier lives.
In 2025, the Award is sponsored by ResponSec Ltd which provides a wide range of security services across numerous industries.
“The company was initially set up to serve live music and sporting events in London and the surrounding counties,” says Managing Director Daniel Blackwood, “but in the last few years has been lending its expertise to the rail industry. I’ve always had a passion for the rail industry and helping to make the railways safer has been a dream of mine for some time.”
In recent years ResponSec has supplied travel safety and welfare officers for Govia Thameslink Railway, and safety, security, and enforcement officers for London Overground. The very nature of the work means that ResponSec is all too aware of the pressures on staff and the toll it can take on their mental and physical health.
“It’s a tough job for our staff because they’re never sure what situation will arise. No two days are the same, and security staff have to deal with a lot of unpleasant scenarios,” he says.
Creating safe spaces
At last year’s RailStaff Awards, Bianca Molloy, joint managing director at TES 2000 Ltd, stood out among the finalists in the Health & Safety category. Having not only embraced her own journey of self-discovery and acceptance, Bianca had also transformed the company’s workplace culture to prioritise the wellbeing of all its employees.
Her path to understanding herself has been profound, shaped by her diverse background and recent diagnosis of autism and ADHD. She has used her experiences to foster empathy and adaptability in her leadership and had turned her sense of ‘otherness’ into a powerful tool for creating an inclusive environment.
“I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved tonight and the amazing effort of all our team,” said Bianca on accepting the award. “This means so much to me because it reflects something I’m truly passionate about: creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves, whether they’re having a great day or a tough one.”
Awards winners
ResponSec also celebrated success in 2024, taking home the Safety Person or Team Award. In response to rising staff assaults and anti-social behaviour, Arriva Rail London (ARL) had increased high-visibility security on the Overground network. ResponSec deployed two teams of safety, security & enforcement officers for a 16-week trial to boost staff confidence, reduce assaults, and support revenue operations. The team patrolled 1,763 trains and handled 280 anti-social behaviour incidents. As a result, over 80% of ARL staff reported feeling safer, and 77% noticed a decrease in workplace violence.
“When our name was called it took a few seconds to sink in and head to the stage,” said Daniel. “I am so proud of the teams that worked on this project and the work they do to make passengers and staff feel safe.
“The RailStaff Awards is a great event for staff who are on the ground. They’re out there everyday, whether that’s on trains, at stations, or doing maintenance, and these Awards really show them that they are appreciated.”
