The Chartered Institution of Railway Operators (CIRO) is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the 2025 Railway Industry Association (RIA) RISE Awards in the prestigious Wellbeing category. The RISE Awards celebrate outstanding innovation, culture and performance in the UK rail supply industry — and our nomination reflects the remarkable transformation in staff wellbeing achieved over the past 18 months.
Wellbeing in the workplace has never been more important. When organisations genuinely support the mental, emotional and physical health of their people, they don’t just create better places to work, they become more resilient, productive and high performing. In the rail industry, where people are central to safety, decision-making and operational success, this investment in wellbeing is essential.
Annette Shipley, who served as interim CEO at the time, is credited with making wellbeing a top organisational priority upon her appointment in 2024, and set about launching several initiatives aimed at increasing satisfaction and wellbeing of CIRO staff.
With extensive experience in people development and a deep personal commitment to staff welfare, Annette led the introduction of several meaningful initiatives. These included the creation of a Wellbeing Policy, the launch of ‘wellbeing days’, ‘Tea & Talk’ sessions, and greater flexibility around working patterns. She also spearheaded efforts to improve internal communication and foster a more open, values-driven workplace culture.
The implementation of these initiatives laid a strong and lasting foundation, that has been fully embraced and built upon by current CEO Phil Sherratt, who has continued to champion wellbeing as a strategic priority. Under Phil’s stewardship, initiatives have grown in strength and impact, with new practices such as weekly staff updates, enhanced recognition of achievements, and an enduring focus on staff voice and empowerment.
Results from the 2024 CIRO staff survey demonstrate how transformative the changes have been:
Phil Sherratt said:
“Wellbeing is fundamental to creating a thriving workplace, and for an organisation like CIRO, where people are at the heart of everything we do, it’s absolutely essential. The initiatives introduced over the past 18 months have made a transformative difference, and I’m incredibly proud to see the positive impact on our team. I am fully committed to building on this, embedding wellbeing at the core of our organisation, and continuing to prioritise the health, happiness, and engagement of every member of our team.”
The winner of the Wellbeing Award will be announced at the RIA RISE Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 26 June 2025 at The Landmark London, where organisations across the rail sector will come together to celebrate industry-leading practice.
To learn more about the awards or view the entire shortlist, visit the RIA RISE Awards website.
