EMR staff swapped permanent way for the runway when they took a moment to show off their newly launched uniform.
In all, 2,000 staff have now got a new uniform, which has been designed to be more easily identifiable to customers – as shown off by the good sports at Nottingham railway station, who put together a fashion show video for the occasion.
Staff have been given an open wardrobe, which allows the team members to pick the fit and style that suits them the best.
Customer service, driver and fleet staff were able to select from a range of garments specially created for their role. The items are designed to be suitable for all weather, comfortable and smart.
Furthermore, the redesigned name badges also include language flags. The idea behind the flags is to identify team members who are confident speaking multiple languages to a level they would be able to assist customers. The flags have been created to improve accessibility across the EMR network, especially for customers who don’t speak English as their first language.
Neil Grabham, customer experience director for EMR said: “The new uniform, which was designed in collaboration with staff from start to finish, will give our colleagues a fresh look, making them easily recognisable to customers in the EMR colours. It has been designed with practicality and comfort in mind, and of course, it will help all EMR colleagues retain a highly visible and recognisable presence around our stations and On Board.
“I am so proud of everyone who has been involved in this project, we’ve created a uniform that not only looks good, but also allows our staff to bring their authentic selves to work and wear their new uniform with pride”.
The creative mind behind the new designs is Debbie Johnson, who has previously designed for companies including Virgin Atlantic and Eurostar. She said: “The uniform has been created based on user feedback and collaboration with a volunteer working group from across all areas of EMR.
“In the early stages of the project, we immersed ourselves in swatches of material, going on a journey to find the perfect balance of fabrics, patterns and textures that work synonymously with the heritage and colour palette, and perfectly tell the story of the brand, but also retained a look and feel of a modern working uniform”.
Customer Service Officer for EMR, Louise Noke, said: “I have been involved in the uniform trial from the beginning in 2021, and I was delighted to be asked to help launch the uniform to the rest of EMR staff.
Louise, plays a part in the current EMR TV advert featuring mascot Miles: “Having my colleagues from across the business comment on how great the uniform looks has been such a positive experience.
“We have been patiently waiting for the new uniform to arrive and today we can all wear it with excitement and pride, helping us deliver the best experience for our customers”
