Recruitment
“John Sidebotham is a programme manager within Intelligent Infrastructure, one of Network Rail’s most complex programmes. When the pandemic hit and our large team of more than 900 people, spread across the UK and abroad, had to relocate to their homes John stepped up and single-handedly put in place a full scale health, wellbeing and support structure that has not only supported the programme but is now recognised across NR and beyond.
John’s outstanding health and wellbeing commitment to his colleagues – driven by his own experience with depression and anxiety – has been recognised at national level, receiving a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours, for service to health and wellbeing during Covid-19.
From the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, John knew more was needed to support the team through the uncertainty of a global pandemic. He started to host daily wellbeing calls using MS Teams, and these continue today. And these are open to the whole business. These sessions are a chance for people to share their feelings and realise they have access to a support network, especially those feeling isolated.
He produces the material used on a daily basis and this is cascaded widely across the business too, drawing on the New Economics Foundation five themes to stay well – connecting with others, being active, taking notice keeping learning and giving.
And using this platform John has used the opportunity to discuss the big issues that impact our wider lives, actively promoting the view that if we can talk about the big things that impact our wider lives, whether around faiths and beliefs or dealing with cancer, then we can be open when things aren’t going quite as planned. And then find great solutions working collaboratively with our customers and each other.
He has run sessions on unconscious bias, tackling racism, miscarriage, menopause, prostate cancer, listening skills with Samaritans, living with profound deafness, neurodiversity, including autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, transgender awareness, Seasonal Affective Disorder, anxiety and depression, domestic abuse, grief, amongst a host of other issues that need to be spoken about openly.
And every four weeks he also hosts a “Loose Men” panel discussion, providing a safe space for men to talk about their feelings.
Through the pandemic John has also written over 35 articles on wellbeing which are posted on Network Rail’s Yammer channels and elsewhere.
His work has provided and continues to provide a safety net and pastoral support not only in Intelligent Infrastructure but across the business. His passion and commitment to the wellbeing of his colleagues has undoubtedly helped the programme continue to deliver and perform so well during this difficult time and I cannot recommend John highly enough for this award.“
“John Sidebotham is a programme manager within Intelligent Infrastructure, one of Network Rail’s most complex programmes. When the pandemic hit and our large team of more than 900 people, spread across the UK and abroad, had to relocate to their homes John stepped up and single-handedly put in place a full scale health, wellbeing and support structure that has not only supported the programme but is now recognised across NR and beyond.
John’s outstanding health and wellbeing commitment to his colleagues – driven by his own experience with depression and anxiety – has been recognised at national level, receiving a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s 2021 Birthday Honours, for service to health and wellbeing during Covid-19.
From the start of the first lockdown in March 2020, John knew more was needed to support the team through the uncertainty of a global pandemic. He started to host daily wellbeing calls using MS Teams, and these continue today. And these are open to the whole business. These sessions are a chance for people to share their feelings and realise they have access to a support network, especially those feeling isolated.
He produces the material used on a daily basis and this is cascaded widely across the business too, drawing on the New Economics Foundation five themes to stay well – connecting with others, being active, taking notice keeping learning and giving.
And using this platform John has used the opportunity to discuss the big issues that impact our wider lives, actively promoting the view that if we can talk about the big things that impact our wider lives, whether around faiths and beliefs or dealing with cancer, then we can be open when things aren’t going quite as planned. And then find great solutions working collaboratively with our customers and each other.
He has run sessions on unconscious bias, tackling racism, miscarriage, menopause, prostate cancer, listening skills with Samaritans, living with profound deafness, neurodiversity, including autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia, transgender awareness, Seasonal Affective Disorder, anxiety and depression, domestic abuse, grief, amongst a host of other issues that need to be spoken about openly.
And every four weeks he also hosts a “Loose Men” panel discussion, providing a safe space for men to talk about their feelings.
Through the pandemic John has also written over 35 articles on wellbeing which are posted on Network Rail’s Yammer channels and elsewhere.
His work has provided and continues to provide a safety net and pastoral support not only in Intelligent Infrastructure but across the business. His passion and commitment to the wellbeing of his colleagues has undoubtedly helped the programme continue to deliver and perform so well during this difficult time and I cannot recommend John highly enough for this award.“
“"a great evening showcasing some tremendous people doing a fantastic job—
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