The RailStaff Awards 2024

Nominations for Apprentice of the Year

Kim Holmes

Said the following about Zoe Auld:

“I would like to nominate Zoe for her outstanding contribution to the organisation and her apprenticeship. Zoe has been completing placements around the business as part of her higher-level degree apprenticeship, making impressions wherever she goes and making her mark by becoming the youngest qualified route controller in the organisation. Doing all this whilst studying and getting brilliant grades for her degree. A statement from the control manager; Zoe learnt very quickly and brilliant at adapting to the challenges of being a Route Controller on the Manchester/North Wales Desk to become very competent indeed. She went about her duties with a fantastic attitude and a great style, building up a lovely rapport with both her colleagues in Control and our frontline teams on her route. She was always very polite and extremely professional at all times. When the team faced challenging times, she was very flexible in helping out and volunteered to plug a few gaps in the roster when they arose, nothing ever seemed too much trouble for her, going above and beyond at times to help out. During this placement Zoe re-located from Scotland to Birmingham, living on her own for 2 months without her family and friends around at this challenging time. This shows real determination and drive to succeed and making the most of her opportunities.

Zoe has also been supporting the business to launch a new app to help staff all across the organisation and customers in times of disruption. Working with multiple areas and teams during this project meant Zoe having great relationship building skills that would challenge any professional. Zoe took this on-board and used her strengths to make this a success. A statement from the resources manager; Zoe came to carry out training on the new App (BoT) and took the time with every individual to show them where the system was currently up to and the interaction they could perform with the new system, taking careful consideration with those that weren’t as tech savvy. During this time, there were a number of questions and ideas posed by individuals and instead of simply saying that the system isn’t capable of this or simply saying it’s a potential future update, she went out of her way to list all the questions and ideas and take them to the team working on the App to enhance the system. Constantly adding to the list and liaising with the App team to allow her to feedback on the thoughts and ideas given during training. By Zoe making sure the voices of the teams who will be using the App has helped build a better and more stable App for our future use, I am not sure it would have been this successful if it wasn’t for Zoe’s actions. Project Manager of the BoT App; Zoe joined the Back on Track (BoT) project implementation team having already been placed in Control and Resources. Zoe brought a wealth of experience and knowledge from these areas and was able to apply this to the BoT application. Never short on knowledge and ability to understand the complexities of train control and resource planning ensured the BoT project was a complete success. With Zoe’s personal cognisant of VT and our colleagues she was able to not only deliver technical capability but also follow this through with robust training. Zoe can communicate and engage with our colleagues at all levels.

Whilst learning the business, studying for a degree and becoming a very successful manager within the organisation Zoe also supports the organisation to keep the operation going in difficult times. During one of its biggest challenges Zoe volunteered to assist during industrial strike, learning a new skill of dispatching trains and putting herself on the frontline in a very busy Christmas period, she still made lasting impressions with her colleagues. Gerry Bowie, Route support engineer, Glasgow; I first really got to know Zoe when we got thrown together to cover a late Friday night at Glasgow Central doing Train Dispatch during industrial action, her performance that night was excellent, i had been worried about her leading up to it but my concerns were unfounded, she dealt with some tricky customers that night brilliantly. I know we have lots of talent within the company but in my opinion, she would be a worthy winner of Apprentice of the Year.

Zoe also supported the business during the summer; Lee Braham On-board Manager; Zoe was a huge help this year during the Creamfield’s Festival. She travelled down from Scotland to help out, she took the initiative to help out on-board on her journey down and then worked a full shift at WBQ Station once she arrived. She is someone who I would be happy to have in our Senior Management OBM team here on the Anglo Scot route on a permanent basis.“

Lorna Hancock

Said the following about Zoe Auld:

“I first meet Zoe when she attended a recruitment event. I have to admit from then on she has blown me away with her talent. Zoe was the youngest applicant and held her own with such a beautiful personality. Since then Zoe has been a real asset in the team. Zoe has been involved with recruitment, training, working on-board, involved with disruption, has connected really well in the bigger business, she has achieved so much. Her passion for learning and delivering an amazing service blows me away every single time. Zoe is so diligent, agile and organised she is amazing. Her relationships with the frontline teams are unbelievably professional which sums her up as a person.

I cannot put into words how amazing Zoe is and in my 32 years’ service she has blown me away with her talent.“

Patricia Moore - **HAS LEFT**

Said the following about Zoe Auld:

“Zoe is a little pocket rocket. While working in our area with recruitment she advertised vacancies, screened their applications and invited them to interview if successful. We got a great selection of candidates which some we were able to take straight away but also left our talent banks looking very healthy. They have all turned out to be great additions to our team so Zoe screened them very well. She also got involved in learning station dispatch which she took in her stride and it’s great to see her back in our area doing her refreshers. She is full of energy and works hard but also has time to join in with a bit of fun. As far as I can see, each area she has gone to has helped her grow massively. She has really worked hard since she joined us and I can see how much she has grown, in knowledge and confidence. She’s a fantastic asset to Virgin Trains and has a great career ahead.“

Carolyn Dansky

Said the following about Zoe Auld:

“I’ve been recruiting now in different industries for more than 15 years and Zoe has been that one candidate who makes me most proud and I that will never forget.

Not only did she provide me with first class support, working hard, learning the role quickly, and improving the candidate experience, quality of hires and staff availability across 17 of our locations she made improvements, suggested ideas and grew in confidence every day.

More than everything tangible Zoe has achieved she has a unique ability to connect with everyone she comes into contact with - exuding positivity, energy and drive unlike anything I’ve seen across the railway industry before. In an often difficult environment, Zoe proves that with determination and hard work the career options for young women in the railway are endless and exciting.

Zoe is without a doubt worthy of apprentice of the year - by taking the opportunity with both hands, making fantastic connections right across the industry, improving colleagues and customer’s experiences every day and having an infectious personality to go with it.

Good luck Zoe - you deserve it.“

Alan Moodie - **HAS LEFT**

Said the following about Zoe Auld:

“I was delighted to find out Zoe has been nominated for this award, which is without doubt more than well deserved. Her enthusiasm and passion to learn all walks of, not only virgin but railway life is so rare and inspirational. Her personality and smile is infectious.

I have heard nothing but the highest of praise from all departments she has worked in. Not only has Zoe been travelling down to Manchester university studying for her degree, she has also been completing placements around the business with Huge success.

During placement working on-board and in stations with the frontline, Zoe was a fast learner and always strived to deliver an amazing customer experience. From this she was able to know what was needed to work on the frontline and her talents blossomed in recruitment. She has helped bring in so much new talent into the business, in which I have had the pleasure of managing.

Zoe’s passion for learning is clear to see, pushing her on to become the youngest qualified route controller in the organisation. As well as passing her grades to train dispatch and help out during disruption. Her understanding of the network and being involved with disruption has given her the knowledge and the ability to be part of the new app “bot” project team. Using her unique ability to create relationships with frontline staff and having gained respect from all grades she was easily able to be out individually training managers in how to use the app.

She is always continually wanting to learn and improve her knowledge of the railway, and has now joined the de-branding team, who will benefit massively having her on-board.

During her time completing the placements Zoe has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge and the ability to understand the complexities of train control. She always goes above and beyond and deserves every success coming her way. Zoe is the most driven and professional apprentice with such huge talents who has been an absolute asset to the virgin brand. A definite worthy winner of apprentice of the year.“