07 Mar 2025
This International Women’s Day #IWD25, we hear from Zoe and Becca, two of our current apprentices at Transport for Wales. They share their stories with us on their journey so far, barriers they have overcome and words of advice to aspiring applicants who are looking to join the transport industry.
Becca’s Story
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hello! I’m Becca, I’m 25 and the Access and Inclusion co-ordinator apprentice at Transport for Wales (TfW). I’ve been working here for just over a year now, and it’s been a dream come true for me!
Tell us about any barriers you’ve faced in your career so far
I face a range of barriers in my day-to-day life due to being neurodivergent and disabled. I haven’t had the most straightforward route through education and employment and there was once a point where I believed I would never be able to attend sixth form, let alone get a job.
Transport for Wales, and particularly my manager, have been incredibly supportive and this has allowed me to thrive in full-time employment for the last year, something I previously felt would be impossible for someone like me. TfW seem to genuinely value the lived experience of people with protected characteristics and this is something which allows me to feel accepted by my colleagues from all over the organisation, and be myself at work, which is incredibly helpful.
Tell us a bit more about your role
I work very closely with the accessibility panel in my role, co-ordinating their monthly meetings and attending site visits with them. It’s been an absolutely pleasure to work with them and learn about other disabilities and access barriers that I don’t experience myself.
I currently sit on the Rail Industry Neuroinclusive Community an have also been tasked by my manager to produce a Neurodiversity Action Plan, the first of it’s kind in TfW. I intend to use my position to continuously raise awareness f the experiences of both neurodivergent customers and how TfW can work towards a better access for this group of people.
What are you most proud of?
I was recently shortlisted for the Young Rail Professionals “Apprentice of the Year” award which means so much to me, but every day in my role is a day I’m proud of. I feel honoured that I am in a position where I am able to speak on subjects that I am incredibly passionate about, to the people who are responsible for making changes to policy and infrastructure. Through my role in the Access and Inclusion team, I feel that I can make a real impact not only within TfW but for our communities that use our services across Wales and borders.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an invaluable opportunity to highlight and honour the achievements of women throughout history, whilst also acknowledging the struggles that women across the world still face today and advocating for social change. I am incredibly grateful to live in a society which allows me to have a voice and succeed professionally in a role I love, and I hope for a world where every woman and girl can access the same opportunities as me.
What message would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self, as well as any other girls in their teens and women in their 20’s, that it is never too late to become the person you want to be. It is never too late to achieve the things you want to achieve, and it is never too late to turn your life around and start again. I am 25 years old and truly feel I am now in my dream job, despite being an apprentice after having to restart my education multiple times in the past. The story of the tortoise and the hare comes to mind!
Who are your #IWD role models?
There are several amazing neurodivergent influencers out there who I take great inspiration and courage from, including Chloe Hayden and Elle Middleton. Both are unapologetically themselves and have written books about their experiences, encouraging other women and girls to be unashamed of who they are and unmask their true selves, as neurodivergent people. This is something I am continuously learning to do every day, and it is made much easier by those who came before me, paving the way for a more neuroinclusive society that celebrates difference.
Zoe’s Story
Tell us a bit about yourself
Hi, I’m Zoe, an Electric Vehicle Charging apprentice here at Transport for Wales
Tell us a bit more about your role
I work in the electric vehicle team as their apprentice as part of the wider decarbonisation team aiming to achieve net-zero in Wales by 2050. We are looking at how to support people to converting to electric vehicles. This is mainly done by supporting the provision of electric charging infrastructure, from fast chargers to lamppost chargers. Our team shares knowledge and resources to enable efficient and effective roll out of EV charging infrastructure across Wales. One of the projects I’m involved in is developing a crowdsource map which aims to put anyone who is looking to put a charger on their site but does not quite know where to start, in touch with a chargepoint operator who can then work with them for the best solution. My role also crosses over to buses as well as we are trialling converting old diesel buses into an electric fleet which will require charging infrastructure.
Tell us about any barriers you’ve faced in your career
Until I came here, I thought I would find working in an office full-time really hard, simply because I am neurodiverse and work best in quiet places. Luckily at TFW I was able to voice this when I applied, which was accepted and accommodated right from the start without judgement where I am given as much flexibility as needed whether I work in the office or at home. I now really like coming into the office 2-3 times a week to catch up with everyone as there’s a really nice atmosphere. The flexibility and understanding from my manager and wider team has been a gamechanger and has changed my perception of how an office job can be. TfW are an example of what all organisations should be aiming to achieve for those who are neurodiverse and have mental health difficulties.
What are you most proud of?
I am simply proud that I got offered an apprenticeship with TFW in the first place. Its given me a foot in the door that I did not frankly expect to get into given my lack of qualifications so apprenticeships are just brilliant where people like me, who are capable of learning on the job with the right support, a chance.
What would you tell your younger self?
If you don’t go the traditional route of A levels and university, it really isn’t the end of the world. There are so many different pathways out there, it's just finding one that suits you. There will be times when you want to give up or it feels hopeless but keep going and try to have patience, because it's worth it in the end when you do find the right job and the right organisation.
What message would you like to send to young women and girls reading this today?
Get to know who you are, what works for you and what doesn't then do what is right for you. Live life for yourself and not for others. Listen to your gut.
Marie Daly, Chief Culture and Customer Officer at TfW and Chair for Women in Rail said:
“Our organisation is all about people and making sure that we've got an organisation that's accessible to everybody is important to us. Our current apprentice cohort has a 52% gender bias towards women and we want to see more of that in creating diversity across our apprenticeship scheme and the wider organisation. Investing in our people and investing in skills is really important.
We want to become a place where everybody can bring their true self to work by creating environments where that can happen on a daily basis.
I'd recommend anybody looks at an apprenticeship. For those people who have found that a more academic route is not for them, an apprenticeship can be a place where you can learn on the job and for some people that's a much better career experience. We offer a diverse range of roles and we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.”
For more information about Early Talent and opportunities at Transport for Wales, please visit: Our Vacancies | Careers | Transport for Wales
