Spotlight Series: Meet Alvin Wedderburn
For this month's Spotlight piece, we interviewed Alvin Wedderburn, the Head of Train Delivery Service West at Greater Anglia (GA). Alvin joined the rail industry more than 20 years ago, starting his career as a trainee before going on to become a senior manager, overseeing a team of more than 300 people. We spoke to him about working his way up from the grass roots and to get his perspective on diversity across the sector.
How and why did you join the rail industry, and could you tell us a little about your background?
I started out working in a DIY store before joining the rail industry as a trainee, where I did everything from cleaning to customer service, and engineering to train repairs. After a while, I was promoted to supervisor before being encouraged to go for a management role by my boss. I think he saw something in me after I called out a colleague who wasn’t treating people as he should. I have since worked my way up to be the Head of Train Delivery Service West at Greater Anglia, overseeing a team of more than 300 drivers and staff, whilst managing route and train performance on the West Anglia route.
Is there anything you are particularly passionate about in the rail industry, and what keeps you in this industry?
The people! They really inspire and motivate me. Since I joined Greater Anglia, I have felt well-supported and empowered to make decisions which shape our culture.
Having worked across so many roles in the industry what have you learned along the way?
Climbing the career ladder in the rail industry has been filled with challenges and opportunities. Listening to feedback and acting on it has taught me a lot. The sector has provided valuable training in core safety and people management, giving me the skills I needed for success. I owe much of my development to the managers who’ve mentored me along the way and shared their knowledge with me. They have laid the groundwork for my success, guiding me throughout my career.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities on the horizon for the rail industry?
The rail industry faces the challenge of modernising and changing its culture. While there have been positive steps in this direction, there is still work to be done to create a more inclusive and diverse environment. Opportunities lie in altering the industry's culture, modernising its approach, and building a more positive and progressive rail sector.
What aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?
The most rewarding part of my job is helping my team excel. I take pride in seeing them grow. It fills me with a great sense of achievement when I can identify key traits within my team to help them develop. It is truly fulfilling to witness their progress and know I've played a part in their journey to success.
Are there any notable achievements or milestones in your career that you are particularly proud of?
I've had the privilege of turning around several stations in my career. For Southeastern, I successfully improved the Victoria, Charing Cross, and Cannon Street operations. In my current role at Greater Anglia, the team has made significant improvements in train performance, depot compliance, and West Anglia carriage sidings management. I also helped to bring in a fleet of brand-new trains, which despite major challenges (such as the pandemic), went smoothly.
How well is diversity reflected in the rail industry?
When I first joined the industry, I faced various challenges and felt pressured to conform to the existing status quo – to be a different version of myself. Over time, attitudes have changed, but there are still pockets within the industry where challenges persist, and you come up against barriers. That said, the industry has done a significant amount to change the culture.
Some of my team will ask me questions, as a person of colour, to better understand my perspective, which I am always happy to share because I am in a position where I have an opportunity to change culture and look at what else we can do to continue to build the industry in a positive way.
What advice would you give to young people starting out in the rail industry?
I would encourage young people, including those from diverse backgrounds, to explore the wide variety of job opportunities available within the rail industry. Whether they are roles at stations, on trains, in offices, engineering, or finance, they all contribute to wider success. There are so many rewarding and fulfilling opportunities to take advantage of if you are just starting out.
How do you use your influence to drive change and promote increased diversity and equality in the rail sector?
I actively support initiatives like the Women in Rail scheme at Greater Anglia and have been involved in presenting at Women in Rail events, as well as at women driver recruitment days. My team and I have also been involved in piloting the initial stages of Greater Together, a Greater Anglia programme promoting diversity and inclusion across the organisation.