Alison Knight

Said the following about Fran Coult:

“Leaving college with a BTEC in business and law, Fran Coult realised she was more suited to practical learning and decided to pursue an apprenticeship rather than go to university. Alongside researching and applying for apprenticeships, Fran worked in a supermarket and became a key worker during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Undeterred, Fran continued her apprenticeship search and rejected offers from companies she felt did not align with her values. She then discovered Alstom, liked what the business represented, applied and secured a Supply Chain Apprenticeship in September 2020. Relocating from Sheffield to the village of Radlett aged 19 and during the pandemic, Fran embraced the new opportunity and threw herself into managing a challenging fleet cleaning contract.

With the cleaning supplier involved in industrial action and on strike and the Alstom Account Director unexpectedly taking extended leave, Fran stepped in to manage the situation. Involved in supplier crisis management to maintain the cleaning service, critical during the pandemic, and coordinating communications with client senior leaders to ensure no disruption to the rail service, Fran led the dialogue and revised regime and cleaned 25 11-car trains herself in 48 hours.

“You demonstrated putting the customer at the heart of what we do by covering shifts to ensure trains were cleaned and left in a high standard for customers. Your work ethic was great, you’re a role model ambassador.”

“Fran developed her stakeholder skills and proactively supports the business, involved in meetings over the weekend to ensure fleets kept running.”

Using her initiative and lessons learnt, Fran collaborated with the cleaning supplier to review the existing process and chemicals used and developed a new, more efficient cleaning standard. Following training and procurement of products, this new standard has been approved and is being used to clean modernised and new fleet.

Quickly gaining a reputation for collaborating with suppliers to create efficiencies Fran was headhunted internally, following Alstom's acquisition of Bombardier, to support the integration and relocated to Derby. Involved in identifying 12 integration workstreams and creating a ‘Supply Chain War Room’, Fran led the reporting to measure and monitor performance. This involved challenging supply chain members, much senior than herself, on the lack of performance and agreeing resolutions. In one instance, Fran developed a new operational strategy which led to Alstom investing £3m to improve delivery performance. She also presented progress and outcomes, not always positive, to Alstom’s European Supply Chain and Operation Directors, one of whom travelled from Italy specifically for the meeting.

Realising the lack of diversity within the rail industry, and as someone who wants to make a difference, Fran is a prominent member of Alstom’s Voices of Women group. Spearheading a Period Care campaign, Fran is educating colleagues about menstruation, the stigmatisation and leading the rollout of free feminine hygiene products across Alstom's sites. Undertaking a benchmarking exercise and engaging organisations to share learning, including Network Rail and ScotRail, Fran has produced companywide communications to raise awareness and signpost support.

Using her own apprenticeship journey, recognising the range of disciplines available, passionate about diversity and inspiring the next generation, Fran is a cheerleader for the rail industry. A proactive STEM ambassador, Fran leads the strategy and all activities at Alstom's Crewe site, including school and university technical college visits and presentations and is coordinating a programme of events for National Apprenticeship Week. Supporting the Governments ‘skills for life’ theme, Fran has already organised an open day for school leavers, a local MP visit and various talks from senior rail leaders who started as apprentices.

An active member of East Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, Fran has documented her personal journey and created a video to help raise awareness and change perceptions of apprenticeships to demonstrate there are no gender barriers. She also supports community events, helping with hands-on STEM tasks, mock interviews and CV workshops. Recognised for her valuable input, Fran was selected to be a regional apprenticeship award judge.

Fran’s thirst for knowledge, passion for rail, ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex challenges and dedication to creating positive change is inspiring. She has already achieved much more than is expected from an apprentice and is a shining example.“