What Moves Us

What Moves Us - Edging Into 2024

For our 1st episode of 2024, Johannah, Deb & Liam discuss potential key themes of the year ahead (politics, politics & politics).

Plus, Liam spoke with Jude Hough, an Innovation Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Edge to hear about the support available for startups through the organisation. They discuss working directly with SMEs to provide coaching and help to realise the potential of a promising innovation and get it to market, both in the UK and internationally. As someone who herself has experienced the start up journey, Jude is able to empathise with founders on funding and resource challenges, and is keen to hear from those with high growth ambitions, particularly around the themes of decarbonisation or improving the experience for the transport user. It all starts with a chat!

Contact Jude via the links below:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jude-hough-41930725/
or use the National Enquiry Gateway: https://www.innovateukedge.ukri.org/contact-us

Link to high speed rail report: https://www.ineco.com/ineco/en/insights/visible-futures/efficiency-spanish-sector-development-high-speed-railways

 

What Moves Us: Network Rail Accessibility

Liam & Johannah speak with Natasha Marsay, Network Rail's Accessibility and Inclusion Policy Lead, to hear about the good work being undertaken to enable autonomy for customers: including a chat about how inclusivity means more than just providing level access; trying to balance all the needs of various passenger groups; the challenge of providing consistency of experience across the station estate; and the value of the purple pound. We end with Natasha's advice for young people considering entering the rail industry: join!

What Moves Us. Interview with John Lawrence

In this episode Liam spoke with friend of the Rail Innovation Group, John Lawrence. With a history of bringing innovation into rail from both within and without rail, we talked about his experience with signalling, corporate constraints, mentorship and even the waves of (innovation) change.

 

Plus John gives his insight on large organisations' appetite for risk as well as his advice for new recruits on how best to make a difference to peoples' lives - hint... work out what skills you have to offer!

What Moves Us: Innovation & Collaboration with S&B

Liam & Johannah discuss the current uncertainty on national rail's future, including asking who benefits from Scotland's off-peak all day trial. Plus Liam speaks with Ben Jones, Business Development Manager at S&B (09:45), to ask him of his experience working within a larger supplier - what are their challenges with the innovation space; and does the company want to innovate, or does it have to innovate? 

Ben gives an open welcome to collaboration with smaller suppliers, reflecting the infectious enthusiasm of start ups' passion and knowledge of their solutions.

 

His advice for new entrants to the market: be patient and be pushy!

What Moves Us - Window Seater

We spoke with Window Seater's Marcus Allender on the origin of the journey guide app, from the French countryside to helping Gail the Goose find her hat!

 

We hear how the developers have sought to respond to an industry need to improve journey experience, bringing diversity of voices into the stories selected, as well the various commercial routes to roll out.

What Moves Us - GCRE

Liam & Johannah catch up after the summer to discuss the Rail Innovation Group's plans for autumn, plus Liam speaks with GCRE's Director of Strategy and Skills, Rob Forde, (at 17:20) to hear about the exciting plans for the massive Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), including opportunities for local communities, local institutions, as well as SME's nationwide - it's not just a test site! We hear Rob's top advice to new entrants to the rail sector - take advantage of every opportunity and persist on through!

What Moves Us: Culture at Eurostar

We speak with Eurostar's Jon Witt to discuss how the diversity of cultures​ in the organisation help Eurostar to build a virtuous circle of attracting great staff to deliver great services. We discuss the merging of Eurostar and Thalys cultures, hearing how people across both organisations are already working​ collaboratively together.​ 

We discuss lessons that can be brought to the future development of Great British Railways - diversity is the name of the game!

Plus, we hear Jon's advice for young people considering a career in rail - grab those opportunities!

What Moves Us: Interview with CrossTech

In this episode Liam speaks with CrossTech's Haydon Bartlett-Tasker, discussing all things algorythms, analytics, gardens and collaboration, as well as the challenge of being an SME in the rail industry: iteration is the name of the game! Don't worry, we do end with positive message on the future.

What Moves Us: Funding Innovation

Remarkably, the Rail Innovation Group's Deb, Johannah & Liam are all in the same room, in the same city so we had to take the opportunity to have a discussion on the latest news from the world of GB rail, as well as to have a deep dive into our recently published paper, Improving the Innovation Funding Ecosystem (download or read on our website, railinnovationgroup.com)

What Moves Us: In Conversation with East West Rail

In this episode Liam Henderson & Deb Carson spoke with Daisy Chapman-Chamberlain of East West Rail to discuss the role of innovation in the wider railway project, as well as the opportunities created by this unique project to deliver services across a range of communities. Daisy shares her insight of the rail innovation landscape & lends her support to start ups and SMEs keen to engage with the project.