By investing in the next generation of female talent and fostering environments where women can succeed and lead, Hitachi continues to transform its commitment to diversity in STEM into meaningful, lasting impact.
Across its businesses, Hitachi has consistently championed the advancement of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), recognizing that diversity of thought is essential to driving innovation and delivering sustainable solutions. From attracting the next generation of female engineers, to creating environments where they can thrive, grow and lead, the organization continues to take deliberate steps to turn intent into impact.
In this conversation, we speak with the Head of Human Resources UK, Rachel Evans, to explore how these commitments are brought to life locally—through talent strategies, inclusive policies, and a workplace culture designed to empower women in engineering at every stage of their career.
What strategies are we using to build and sustain a strong pipeline of female talent in STEM roles, particularly engineering, across the UK?
This is crucial to the sustainability of our business; we’re focusing on engaging with future talent at every stage of the journey from schools and colleges, through to apprenticeships, graduate programs and experienced hires. We actively support outreach initiatives that help young people understand the exciting opportunities in modern engineering and rail, including opening our factory to our local friends and family as part of the Railway200 celebrations in October 2025.
We’ve created partnerships with organizations including Smart Works and Her Future, both supporting women back into the workplace. We’re also a platinum partner with Women in Rail Organization, which enables us to engage in quality discussions across the industry to support the attraction and retention of female talent.
We’ve also just entered into a partnership with All Within My Hands, an NGO founded by the well-known rock band Metallica. The initiative offers guaranteed interviews to young education leavers and includes discussions with government on improving access to STEM skills and employment across the UK.
In an increasingly competitive talent market, how are we positioning ourselves as an employer of choice for women engineers?
We’ve created strategic partnerships to increase our visibility to female candidates, but we can only be an industry or employer of choice if women engineers can see that they belong in our organization. Representation matters. We have strong role models within Hitachi Rail who actively engage as STEM ambassadors with educational and community partners across the UK, allowing girls and women to learn about working at Hitachi Rail and the opportunities open to them in our business and across the industry.
We work hard to ensure our policies and practices are as inclusive as possible, and we run specifically designed training programs to ensure leadership is skilled in hiring and leading diverse and inclusive teams.
We also take it one step further by working with our supply chain to continuously drive an increase in female representation at shortlist stages.
How are our benefits and policies evolving to better support women in engineering throughout different life stages and career journeys?
We recognize that employees’ needs are diverse and change throughout different stages of life, so flexibility is important. It’s something I’m proud of at Hitachi Rail – we support working parents, people with caring responsibilities, or those navigating life events. Our aim is to provide policies and benefits that help balance work and life successfully.
Our Employee Resource Group (ERG) representing Women & Allies, provide support throughout the business, as well as inputs to policy-making and cultural change. Through this network, employees also have access to confidential support and signposting at any time.
Who are your favorite role models amongst women in STEM across any sector globally?
Personally, I take the greatest inspiration from those who go above and beyond their day-to-day roles to support others and create an inclusive environment where people can feel they truly belong. We have many of these heroes within Hitachi Rail, including our Head of Engineering, Susan Khan, recently named Inspirational Woman of the Year at the Women in Rail Awards. Susan works tirelessly as a STEM ambassador, championing careers in STEM within schools and colleges, acting as sponsor for the Women & Allies Network as well as supporting and mentoring women across the business and industry. Small acts like this can make a huge difference to someone wondering if this is the right place for them.
Within the UK rail sector, what encouraging shifts are you seeing in attracting more women into engineering and technology roles?
One of the most encouraging changes is that the conversation has moved beyond simply increasing representation to creating genuine inclusion and belonging. Across the industry, we’re seeing stronger collaboration between employers, educational institutions and organisations to promote careers and challenge outdated perceptions.
There’s also recognition that the skills shortages cannot be resolved by recruiting from the same traditional talent pools, and that attracting more women into engineering and technology is essential to the future success of the rail industry and wider industry across the UK.
Earlier this week, I met with politicians from the North East Town of Darlington, to explore ways in which Hitachi Rail can support skills development and employability in the region with a strong focus on STEM education, improving employability and allowing access to high-quality careers.