Emma-Kate Ryan

Said the following about Adam Stead:

“Adam Stead is an exceptional individual, making an exceptional personal contribution to our industry in his spare time. His list of professional accomplishments by the age of thirty is impressive, and it is for that reason that I wish to nominate Adam Stead for Rail Person of the Year.

Adam is a Chartered Engineer, who graduated with a first class honours degree in Systems and Control Engineering from the University of Sheffield in 2009. In seven years, Adam has not only excelled in his day job, establishing his own consulting company; but has also sought to better the industry through his leadership roles within various professional organisations including the Railway Study Association, INCOSE, and most prominently with Young Rail Professionals.

His participation with the Young Rail Professionals has set him apart as someone who truly cares about the advancement of the industry. He is an original member of Young Rail Professionals, a dynamic not-for-profit organisation made entirely of volunteers with over 4,000 members nationally; he was then appointed Networking and Development Manager in 13/14, and subsequently elected Chairman of Young Rail Professionals in 14/15, during which he developed and delivered the strategy to turn YRP into the regionalised organisation it is today.

In this industry, we hear time and time again that one of the largest issues facing us is the skills shortage – his passion for bridging this skill gap is what really makes Adam deserving of this award. Adam is a do-er, not a talker - he decided the best way to do this was to engage schools; and he developed the vision for the first ever Rail Week. Adam knew it needed a collective industry effort, a catalyst for change, and that YRP was now ready to take on that challenge. He led Young Rail Professionals in this huge undertaking.

Adam brought together a team of YRP volunteers from across the country to create the tools for industry to make the most of Rail Week, with a dedicated website, marketing and PR, lesson plans for schools, careers fliers, and presentations - all to help young people imagine their future in rail.

To make Rail Week a reality, Adam secured the funding and support from senior industry leaders and government departments, and built key relationships with partners such as STEMNET to manage 98 Rail Week STEM Ambassadors. Adam also led the stakeholder engagement for Rail Week to get commitment from companies to be part of Rail Week including Alstom, Bombardier, Hitachi, Siemens, TfL, Crossrail, HS2 and Network Rail.

Over 2,500 young people in schools, colleges and universities have been inspired this year as a result of Rail Week, the industry’s first industry-wide project to bridge the skills gap in rail via 157 events held across the UK involving over 70 companies.

Adam’s pioneering spirit, leadership and dedication has given the rail industry a great platform and catalyst to address the skills gap and inspired thousands of young people to consider careers in rail. While many of us feel under pressure managing just our day jobs, Adam has delivered an industry-first, country-wide initiative that has reached out to and inspired so many, not only young people, but companies and organisations too. He did this all while managing his own company, taking leading roles in two other professional institutions, building a major extension on his new house and planning a wedding – all in his spare time! He is truly a star industry figure with boundless energy and an inherent commitment to bridging the skills gap, and for this reason I wish to nominate him as Rail Person of the Year.“