As part of our blog series for International Women in Engineering Day, we spoke to our Junior Analyst, Hannah Cordingly, on her placement at Hitachi Rail UK and her advice to young women wanting to pursue a career in engineering.
Finding Your Passion
Becoming a Junior Analyst at Hitachi Rail wouldn’t have been possible without my secondary school experience. I was lucky enough to attend a school where STEM was a huge focus and I, of course, absolutely loved physics, chemistry and math. I enjoyed problem-solving and my teachers were quick to encourage me to pursue a degree in engineering.
I was introduced to Hitachi two years into my Mechanical Engineering Degree at Newcastle University when we had to do a mock interview with a randomly selected company.
It was during my mock interview with a team member at Hitachi that I was offered a real placement just 3 months later – I was absolutely over the moon!
I didn’t know much about Hitachi Rail at the time, but I was instantly inspired by the company’s sustainability goals and ESG initiatives. There were a lot of exciting projects and I couldn’t wait to be a part of it.
The company values - ‘Harmony’, ‘Sincerity’, and ‘Pioneering Spirit’—also stood out to me in my research. After nearly a year in my placement, I can confidently say the team truly do embody these values.
Growth, Opportunities and New Experiences
As a Junior Analyst at Hitachi Rail, I work in the Integrated Delivery Team, mainly focusing on rolling stock opportunities and projects. This involves costing future opportunities and getting insight into the exciting innovations in the company pipeline.
When I look back on my time at Hitachi Rail I can’t believe how lucky I’ve been to have such an incredible and supportive team. I’ve had so many opportunities that I never thought would’ve been possible.
I’ve worked across different departments, attended great networking events like those hosted by the Young Rail Professionals, and took on tasks that previously would have terrified me. One of the biggest highlights was traveling overseas to Italy to tour the Pistoia plant, an experience I feel incredibly lucky to have had.
Apart from the number of opportunities, what has stood out for me at Hitachi has been the supportive work environment. Since day one, I have always felt very supported and been given the freedom and space to be innovative and creative.
If there is something you’re interested in, you are not only encouraged to pursue it, but are also given the guidance and tools to do so.
The Exciting Future of the Rail Industry
Something I didn’t expect was how exciting working in the rail industry was going to be. There is a lot happening – particularly in the area of sustainability and Hitachi is at the forefront of this.
Recently, I worked on some data collation used for the costings of Hitachi’s battery trains. These projects seem to be gaining a lot of momentum due to their significantly reduced carbon emissions and fuel consumption. The insight I’ve gained through this has furthered my interest into its journey.
I’m also interested in the smart ticketing that has been widely used across Japanese rail. The main objective seemed to be increasing customer convenience and service though using a single smartcard (combined with station terminals) for ticket payments and data storage. It has now developed to include services such as loyalty point schemes and has also expanded outside of railways to other transport operators.
Hitachi was heavily involved in the initial development across Japan and I’m intrigued to see where else this reaches.
Encouraging Young Women in Engineering
My advice to other young women pursuing a career in engineering is to network as much as you can – whether that be in school, university or professionally.
It is important to remember that everyone starts from the same place, which sounds cheesy, but it is true! It can feel daunting when entering a male-dominated industry but use this to your advantage as our perspectives are not only valuable but they’re also unique.
Finally, work experience – whether it’s a day or year, find a place you enjoy. You will gain experience, meet new people and develop both professionally and personally in ways you won’t expect.
I have absolutely loved my time at Hitachi Rail and it’s an experience I will value for the rest of my life.
Supporting Women in Engineering
If companies want to encourage more women into the engineering sector they need to introduce placement and graduate programmes like .
I wouldn’t have discovered Hitachi if it wasn’t for my university degree, so it's also really important that a wide range of businesses work with universities and try and connect their potential future workforce.
When businesses do have graduates, providing as many opportunities - whether it be to travel or to attend events - fosters supportive environments that encourage growth and development so the students can feel like they’re making a real difference.
Hitachi Rail Careers
Ambitious projects and rapid growth means Hitachi Rail needs people who are passionate about helping us deliver meaningful projects around the world. The future of rail is exciting and we offer pathways into the career growth opportunities within the rail industry.
If you are at the start of your career, or new to the rail industry, Hitachi Rail offers a range of apprenticeships and graduate opportunities. Our graduate engineering jobs are one of the ways we invest in emerging talent to build a future of sustainable transport through innovative technology. If you already have experience in the industry, we provide the opportunity to work on world class projects that bring meaningful change across the globe.
