CIRO Member, Claire Volding ‘should have upgraded sooner!’ | Chartered Institution of Railway Operators

CIRO Member, Claire Volding ‘should have upgraded sooner!’

Claire Volding began her rail career in 2013 on the Track and Train graduate scheme and has since achieved many fantastic ambitions including, co-authoring the National Autumn Review in 2014, being shortlisted for a Women in Rail award in 2018, and winning Anglia Controller of the Year in 2020.

This year, Claire is due to complete her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with CIRO which she reveals will be her biggest achievement once finished.

 Why did you decide to upgrade?

“Not being a CIRO Member meant that I missed an interview opportunity. I’d been an affiliate for a long time, and this was the indication that I was selling myself short by not upgrading my membership.

The professional recognition of CIRO membership carries a lot of weight in the industry and it showcases your credibility and expertise while providing access to a wealth of resources and networking opportunities, I wish I’d started the process sooner.”

What benefits of CIRO membership appealed to you?

“Being a member of CIRO allows you to see all the different career opportunities that the industry has to offer. Upgrading my memberships has presented a way to expand my network in the industry, attend interesting events and develop my knowledge through an academic course.”

What stood in your way?

“I held myself back from upgrading sooner as I thought the process would be much more complicated and onerous than it was. It was in fact quite the opposite, an enjoyable process that made me reflect on my achievements to date.

I think we all rarely take the time to reflect on all the experience and knowledge we have gained and what we have contributed to our workplace; it can make you feel tremendously proud when you do.”

For Claire, she has discovered a newfound professional pride in her rail career and she will dedicate her spare time to help others develop themselves further in the industry.

Membership gives you access to invaluable industry insights, a first look at a wide variety of events and allows you to learn from top industry professionals with our mentoring scheme.

Don’t hold yourself back from endless opportunities, be a part of our commitment at CIRO to inspire and shape the next generation of rail.

To strengthen your professional recognition by upgrading your membership, our online portal allows straightforward submission of your Professional Operations Development sections. Supporting evidence of knowledge and experience gained from your career can also be put forward, you don’t need formal qualifications.

The four membership levels, Affiliate, Associate, Member and Fellow are designed as career milestones and distinguish you as a rail leader. It’s also possible to apply for any level as there’s a membership to suit you at any stage of your career.

What are you waiting for?

To apply for the industry’s top professional recognition, visit www.ciro.org/upgrade-your-membership/ and start your journey!