Fi Westcough

Fi Westcough is the Chair of the Young Rail Professionals (YRP). YRP is a volunteering organisation which provides people around the UK with opportunities for Professional Development and Networking with peers, including technical seminars, site visits, international tours and socials. YRP aims to promote the rail industry as a great place to work, inspire the next generation of railway talent, and develop young people to reach their potential.

Fi has been heavily involved in YRP since April 2020. As East Midlands Vice Chair, she organised 15+ events, ranging from technical webinars to mental health workshops. As National Marketing and Branding Manager, she supported the new website launch, and delivered emails & social media posts to promote YRP events and initiatives. As National Vice Chair, she was primarily responsible for YRP’s 20+ Corporate Member relationships, bring in much needed funds to run the organisation.

In 2019, Fi joined the rail industry as a Graduate Engineer at Atkins (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), a multinational engineering, design, planning, architectural design, project management and consulting services company. In her time as a graduate, she supported two major clients on secondment – Bombardier (Alstom) and Transport for London – as a Systems Engineer and a Rolling Stock Engineer respectively. She now resides in Atkins’ Strategic Rail Market team, supporting business development opportunities, identifying market trends and looking at how Atkins’ services can adapt to clients’ ever-changing needs.

On top of this, Fi is an associate of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and is working towards Chartership. She is passionate about inspiring the next generation of engineers.

All of her efforts within Atkins and YRP culminated to winning the ‘Future Leader’ Award at the Rail Industry Association RISE Awards 2021, being Highly Commended for Young Professional at Rail Business Awards 2022, and shortlisted for Rising Star at the Women in Rail 2021.