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The Train System Engineer and Chair of Alstom’s LGBTQ+ staff network transports Vada into the world of train manufacturing and explains how the industry is becoming more inclusive.
Phillipa Armstrong is flanked by fellow Alstom colleagues for a photoshoot earlier this summer at the Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, the multinational transportation manufacturer’s largest train factory in the UK. As the Chair of Voices of Pride+, Alstom’s LGBTQ+ staff network, it’s a momentous day for Armstrong and their colleagues. Behind them stands Nottingham Express Transit’s tram 213; or the ‘trambow’ as it will now be referred to, wearing a stylish rainbow design to mark Notts Pride at the end of July. The tag line ‘Ride with Pride’ is a philosophy that both the manufacturer of the tram and the company that operates it want to instil amongst its customers.
Alstom is not alone in its drive to mark Pride season. Other multinational companies have followed suit, yet some have found themselves under fire for a lack of authentic representation of the LGBTQ+ community within their workforce and customers. It’s a question I put to Armstrong. “I think that no company is perfect in terms of diversity and inclusion, just as no individual gets it right all the time,” she tells me. “But I share in the frustration when I see businesses appear to use the Pride flag as a marketing strategy for one month of the year.”
With over 6,000 employees based at 37 sites, Alstom is the leading supplier of new trains and train services for the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company’s significance in the transportation market is unquestionable, with half of all rail journeys in the United Kingdom being made on an Alstom train. Yet unlike other large companies, Armstrong argues that Alstom is different when it comes to diversity and inclusion, because the company values ideas from its LGBTQ+ employees. Voices of Pride+, for example, is a staff network that the wider company listens to throughout the year, according to Armstrong. The positive relationship between the staff network and company senior leadership, means that when an issue is raised, it is often dealt with quickly.
She continues, “What the public sees might be the Pride flag flying at the site entrance or one of our vehicles wrapped in a rainbow livery – such as the ‘trambow’ we’ve unveiled – but behind the scenes we’re busy updating policies, running awareness events, supporting LGBTQ+ charities and thinking about how we can recruit and retain more LGBTQ+ talent.”
Having started working for Bombardier Transportation in 2018, which was later sold to Alstom, Armstrong has been with the company ever since. She studied Mechanical Engineering at university, subsequently landing a place on Bombardier’s graduate scheme. “I would definitely not have classed myself as a train enthusiast when I joined,” they recall today. “But I was drawn to the idea of working for an ethical company that was having a positive impact on the environment, and I liked the challenge of having so much new stuff to learn.”
The graduate scheme saw them undertaking several rotations within the company. From working on ‘Train Zero’ (“An engineering test facility where we integrate the systems on the train before we actually build any units,” they explain) to responding to questions and technical issues that come up when a train first comes into service.
Having completed the graduate scheme, Armstrong became Deputy Chief Engineer for the Class 730 Aventra fleet that Alstom was building in Derby for West Midlands Trains. It was a varied role that saw her running workshops with drivers and operational staff. In addition, they ensured that there was evidence for every step of the process for getting Alstom trains authorised for passenger service. “It’s a very thorough process,” says Armstrong, the responsibility of the job not lost on them.
In 2022, Armstrong was promoted to Chief Engineer of the Class 730 project, where they stayed until 2023, which is when they moved into their current role at the company. As a Train System Engineer, Armstrong’s current day-to-day sees them developing and researching ideas. “I am right at the other end of the product development cycle in this role,” they explain. “At the moment I am working on some bid opportunities, so my day is full of working in lots of different teams to develop new solutions for our next generation of trains that meet our customer’s requirements.” This involves spending time developing concepts that make trains more energy efficient, for instance, or thinking about ways to make the trains more accessible for customers with different mobility needs.
Although Armstrong’s job is demanding, I can tell that she is also passionate about her work. Is there a project that they’re most proud of, I venture. “The West Midlands Trains Class 730 project,” they reply. “It is always very satisfying to see something you have worked hard on go into service and get lots of positive feedback from passengers.” One of the new trains even got a Pride livery makeover, with the train being named ‘Hurst Street’ in honour of Birmingham’s Gay Village.
Speaking of Pride, Armstrong’s involvement in the company’s LGBTQ+ staff network came about through another staff group they were part of. “Although all of our four employee networks – known as Voices – were created in 2018, I didn’t hear about the Voices of Pride+ until 2022, when I was introduced via the Voices of Women group,” they recall. Armstrong stepped up to the role of Chair of the staff network just months after joining, having no experience of running a group like it.
“I was inspired by what they had achieved so far, especially the introduction of Alstom’s first Transgender Inclusion Policy,” says Armstrong of their motivations for becoming Chair. Brimming with ideas and an equal dose of trepidation at the task ahead, they credit their fellow colleagues for supporting them in leading the staff group. Since becoming Chair, Voices of Pride+ has attended London Pride, as well as offering employability skills workshops to LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers.
“When we ran a CV workshop and mock interviews for a group of LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers earlier this year and I needed more interviewers, most of my team – including my boss – volunteered to help,” recalls Armstrong, telling me that this just one example of how supportive the company is when it comes to both her role as Chair of the LGBTQ+ staff network, as well as LGBTQ+ inclusivity at Alstom. “This sort of supportive team has definitely helped me to feel I can be myself and talk about my home life, as my colleagues do, without feeling I need to hide aspects of it away.”
In terms of discrimination at work, Armstrong acknowledges that they have been fortunate to have not directly faced this in the workplace. “There’s always people who perhaps ask questions in a clumsy way,” they add. “However, with a bit of calm explanation on my part and some friendly curiosity on theirs, we had quite a positive discussion on the subject of visibility and inclusion.”
The international reach of the company does intersect with anti-LGBTQ+ policies abroad, given that Alstom works on projects in countries with varying LGBTQ+ policies and legislation. This does sometimes pose an added layer of complexity, as an LGBTQ+ employee. “Working in a global company, I can sometimes feel a tension around working on projects for countries where I am likely to be discriminated against,” says Armstrong. “ There are still 64 countries around the world that criminalise homosexuality – and I can feel a nervousness working on these projects that I could face much more difficult interactions than the ones I have had here in Derby, where I am based.”
Derby is home to Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility, which is the world’s largest rolling stock factory outside of China, and has been building trains since 1876. While the city may have a notable reputation for train production, the same cannot be said for Derby’s queer scene. “I don’t think Derby will be challenging London or Manchester any time soon when people think about places that have an LGBTQ+ scene!” jokes Armstrong, when I ask them about this. She believes that although Derby might not have that many LGBTQ+ spaces, it does have a growing LGBTQ+ movement.
“There’s an LGBT+ organisation, Derbyshire LGBT+, which arranges support groups for various groups within the community, such as the over 50s, women, parents and carers, and a family group,” says Armstrong. “There is also an annual Pride event in Markeaton Park. Nottingham is nearby too, which has a few more LGBTQ+-specific spaces and events, including the East Midlands’ biggest Pride event, which is always very well attended.”
When it comes to getting into the industry, Armstrong is open about the notion that both engineering and transport continue to be male-dominated fields. “It’s true that there are some pockets where that’s led to quite a macho culture where some off-putting ‘banter’ can happen,” they acknowledge. In fact, research published this year found that the percentage of women working in engineering and technology occupations had dropped from 16.5% in 2022 to 15.7% in 2023. “However, the industry is working hard to change attitudes and welcome more people,” adds Armstrong.
Moreover Armstrong argues that people might be surprised at just how many LGBTQ+ people are working in their field, as well as the wider diversity amongst the workforce. Last year, the industry set up Journey – a network of LGBTQ+ networks within transport that aims to share best practice and help us all to develop a more inclusive culture, with Alstom being a founding member, such is the company’s drive to influence a positive change across the industry.
“I think anyone who wants to be an engineer should go for it,” says Armstrong. “The more diverse perspectives we have, the easier it is to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions, and the industry is really starting to realise the value of that.”
Phillipa Armstrong (she/they) is featured on Vada’s latest digital cover at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane facility in Derby. Armstrong is a Train System Engineer and Voices of Pride+ Chair at Alstom. Cover image courtesy of Alstom.
