Sally Ralston

Said the following about Nichola Bell:

“Nichola is a truly engaging and professional member of staff. She is Merseyrail’s current Employee of the Year. Nicola has been driving for approximately 15 years, for a number of years Nichola has performed her operational role as a Driver based at Birkenhead Central to very high standards of compliance and competence. She is passionate about the environment and has driven several eco-friendly projects at her home depot.

As a leader driver Nichola is also responsible for training new driver recruits.

This is an email received from one of Nichola’s colleagues explaining one of the reasons why we have nominated her;

“I hope you don’t mind me contacting you. I am Alison, a driver at Birkenhead Central (BC) Traincrew Depot.“

“Nichola Bell is probably one of the most enthusiastic, driven and focused people you could meet in terms of wanting to make a difference to the environment. She’s popular, has so much respect from all the staff and is already making a huge difference in a change of attitude towards the environment. She’s set up a ‘Drivers Swap Group’ on what’s app and has successfully managed to inform us all about ‘Eco Bricks’ (we thought it was just for swaps) even posting pictures of ones she’s created just by finding waste in the cab environment.”

“Nic has also set up a recycling bin and we all now have a way to recycle plastics. She really is getting her message across to us all as I noticed her bin was full to the brim on Saturday night with plastics that normally would be thrown away in the main mess room bin. I think if you are ever looking for an inspirational eco-friendly member of staff at BC then Nic is the one. She’s brilliant and with more knowledge and guidance I believe could be a great asset to your team of volunteers.”

Nicola is a very engaging member staff and will always raise areas of concern that arise, in the appropriate manner with a view to improvement and maintaining safety.

Nicola is a working mother and manages the demands of motherhood in tandem with the demands of being a train driver, with the concentration and focus required to perform the role in a safe and competent manner. She copes with both of the roles and is regarded as a very professional member of the driving grade at the depot.

Genuine Nicola treats colleagues, and customers with respect whilst ensuring she performs her role in an open and honest way whilst complying with rules, regulations and safety instructions at all times.

Professional She demonstrates pride in her role and is considered a professional, knowledgeable Driver by the Driver Mangers at the depot. She always attends work in full uniform, with all required equipment to hand. If required she will always report issues and incidents in the appropriate manner, following any issues with a face to face discussion to ensure her point has been understood.

Proactive Nicola has raised a number of issues with the Driver Management Team at BC in recent years. She was key to ensuring the safety of a trespasser, who ran onto the track, initiating an Emergency Switch Off and stopping trains whilst the emergency services dealt with the trespasser

Inclusive Nicola is a very well respected member of the Drivers grade at BC, dealing with colleagues, managers, staff from other functions and stakeholders she is in contact with, in her very engaging manner.“