(Image: Hey Me)
A white paper exploring innovation in the rail industry has been launched.
Unveiled at the National Railway Museum in York on Thursday, October 22, the paper is the result of a collaboration between Hey Me and Abi Broadley Consulting.
Titled Critical Success Factors to Embedding Innovation in UK Rail, it draws on insights from more than 50 contributors across the rail sector.
Amy Jeffs, from Hey Me, said: "This project began because we were curious about one question: why do some innovations succeed when others stall?
"It has been incredible to speak to so many people across the industry who all want the same thing and are willing to work together to achieve success.
"There’s a bright future for rail innovation if we can harness that energy and all make incremental changes."
The white paper identifies five factors essential for successful innovation: solving a real problem, collaboration, communication, having the right champions, and commitment and persistence.
It draws on interviews, panel discussions, and a roundtable with senior managers from organisations including Network Rail, Hitachi, and Innovate UK.
The launch event featured discussions on how these factors can be applied in practice and highlighted current opportunities for innovation within the rail industry.