DEPARTMENTAL REVIEW
Over the past year, CIRO has continued to strengthen its role as the professional home for those working in rail operations. Guided by our Chartered status and our ambition to become indispensable to the rail industry, each department has made significant contributions to building capability, credibility, and community across the sector.
Membership The Membership Department continued to strengthen engagement throughout 2025, creating more opportunities for members to connect, collaborate and develop professionally across the rail industry. A key focus was enhancing our Area Council network, with the successful relaunch of the South West & Wales Area Council, the appointment of new Chairs for the Midlands and North East Area Councils, and an increased programme of local events that strengthened regional engagement.
Corporate member engagement was also enhanced through visits to organisations including Network Rail, Northern, Transport for London and Arup, providing valuable opportunities to build relationships, understand members’ needs and promote the benefits of CIRO membership. We also prepared to hold our first ever in-person Rail Ops Conference in October 2025, bringing together rail professionals from across the industry to share knowledge, discuss emerging challenges and strengthen professional networks.
Together, these initiatives have reinforced CIRO’ s commitment to building a connected and engaged membership community, ensuring members continue to benefit from meaningful engagement, professional development and opportunities to collaborate across the railway.
Apprenticeships CIRO continued to support the development of rail operations professionals through its apprenticeship programmes. Delivering Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 apprenticeships in partnership with employers across the rail industry, the team remained focused on providing high-quality learning experiences that develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to succeed in operational and leadership roles.
The year included several significant developments, including updates to programme content following revisions to apprenticeship standards and continued collaboration with employers to ensure our provision remains aligned with industry needs. A particular highlight was successfully securing the continued delivery of Network Rail’ s Ops Manager graduate apprenticeship programme for a further year, reinforcing CIRO’ s reputation as a trusted partner in developing the next generation of rail leaders. The department also maintained a strong focus on learner support, progression and achievement, helping apprentices make meaningful progress towards their career goals while supporting employers in developing the talent needed for the future railway.
As demand for skilled rail professionals continues to grow, apprenticeships remain a key part of CIRO’ s contribution to the industry. We look forward to building on the progress made this year, strengthening employer partnerships and creating further opportunities for individuals to develop successful careers across the railway.
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