UK: A highlight of the 24th Rail Business Awards to be presented on February 23 2022 will be the Richard Hope Award for an Outstanding Personal Contribution.
One of seven ‘people’ awards this year, the Richard Hope Award is intended to recognise an outstanding contribution from anyone employed in the UK rail sector, whether over many years or on a noteworthy occasion. It is awarded by nomination from the judging panel, although recommendations are invited.
Introduced in 2020, the award commemorates the life and career of former Railway Gazette Editor Richard Hope OBE, who worked for the magazine over more than 50 years, being described as ‘the most authoritative railway journalist of his time’.
The 2021 award was presented to Gemma Platt, of GB Railfreight, who established a mental health and wellbeing programme to sustain the morale of her GBRf colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic. This involved 45 ‘volunteer champions’, helping to solve individual concerns before they became real issues and averting potential tragedies. The judges felt that achieving all this after suddenly losing her husband in 2019 was testament to Gemma’s dedication, commitment and character.
The Rail Business Awards are committed to recognising and celebrating achievements across all areas of the railway industry, from daily operations, safety and customer service to technical innovation and major projects. Submissions have been invited for 18 different categories this year, with entries closing on September 24. Further details can be found at www.railbusinessawards.com
