The RailStaff Awards 2024

Trevor Armitage

Said the following about Nicola Mercer:

“Nicola doesn't work directly for myself or indeed in the same region however, the level of support she has provided the West Region within Northern is second to none and well above & beyond her normal duties.

Nicola is a retail trainer and assessor within the training academy environment instructing newly promoted or employed staff in the finer details of the company retailing systems and customer services. She also instructs & assess’s the Carlisle support team how to use the mobile retail ticketing machines and automatic ticket gates.

Away from this I have had the benefit of her providing out of hours support giving crucial staff presence during the Liverpool blockade works in 2017 & 2018. Nicola has gone above & beyond ensuring all relevant staff at Liverpool Lime Street, Warrington Central and St Helens Central (including myself) were fully trained and passed competent when the automatic ticket gates went live at these stations.

She has recently given up prep time in her own office to run a two week retail refresher course to all of the 35 stations currently within my area of responsibility. Nicola liaises weekly with the region to see if there is anything else she can offer.

Nicola possesses many qualities as a retail trainer, that make her approachable and a valuable asset to the training academy environment.“