CrossCountry celebrates International Women in Engineering Day with Derbyshire engineer leading major fleet improvement programmes

This year, long-distance train operator CrossCountry is showcasing the story of Head of Industry Projects, Kerry Childs, whose journey from a Matlock classroom to leading major fleet improvement programmes stemmed from a lifelong curiosity about how things work, and how things can be improved.

From Matlock classrooms to national rail projects

Kerry, who grew up near Matlock and now lives in Chesterfield, didn’t initially set her sights on becoming an engineer. Inspired by an early interest in science and technology, she once considered a career in medicine but realised her strengths lay elsewhere.

“I always enjoyed understanding how things work and making things,” Kerry explains. “As a kid, I remember helping my dad with cars in the garage and at school I naturally gravitated towards practical subjects. The Design and Technology department at school was great and helped develop my interest in engineering.”

While she later realised she was often one of very few girls in those classes, it wasn’t something that affected her at the time.

“It didn’t really occur to me,” she says. “I chose science and practical subjects because I enjoyed them and they kept a lot of options open for university. At that stage I was still weighing up careers in medicine, veterinary science and engineering.”

Finding the right support

Kerry worked hard to achieve the grades she needed to progress through school, excelling in science and technology subjects and even winning a regional prize representing her school at the Young Engineers competition.

Though she enjoyed science and engineering, English proved more difficult and, with additional support, she was able to achieve the grades needed to keep her options open.

“I did well in art, science and technology subjects, but I struggled with English. I was lucky that my parents recognised this and made sure I got the support I needed outside of school. That helped me achieve the grade I needed to keep my university and career options open.”

Kerry later encountered challenges during her university studies that ultimately led to a formal diagnosis of dyslexia.

“I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia until I was 22, studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering. After I failed exams in one module, my manager during my year in industry suggested I look into whether I might be dyslexic.

“Following an assessment, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia, which meant I could access support that made a huge difference,” she says.

The support enabled Kerry to successfully complete her degree before going on to study for a Masters in Maintenance Engineering and Asset Management, sponsored by ScotRail, while working there as a Vehicle Engineer.

Building a career in rail engineering

Kerry’s rail career began with a placement year at Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) and went on to progress to engineering, project management and fleet consultancy roles across the rail industry.

From early roles working on fleet reliability and maintenance through to major fleet programmes, she has found satisfaction in seeing projects delivered and improvements become reality.

“It’s exciting to see a major project come to life, particularly when you can see the difference it’s made. The larger refurbishment projects tend to get all the attention, but a lot of the work that makes a difference isn’t so visible - that might be improving processes, implementing reliability improvements, resolving complex commercial issues or improving train functionality.

“I still remember the buzz of spotting a GNER train in a Harry Potter film when I was new to the industry. It’s rewarding to see the outcome of work you’ve been involved with, whether that’s a major refurbishment programme or a less visible improvement that makes a difference for colleagues and customers.”

In her current role at CrossCountry, Kerry is responsible for a portfolio of fleet improvement programmes, combining engineering, project delivery, commercial management and stakeholder engagement, incorporating:

• The introduction of additional trains into the fleet from other operators;
• Refurbishment and heavy maintenance overhaul of CrossCountry’s inter-regional Turbostar fleet;
• Modernisation of CrossCountry’s long-distance Voyager fleet.

Together, these programmes are improving reliability, accessibility and the overall customer experience across the CrossCountry network.

Delivering improvements for customers

The Voyager refurbishment programme represents a £75 million investment and includes redesigned interiors and exteriors, upgraded seating, power points at every seat, improved lighting and luggage storage, and modernised onboard systems.

Delivering programmes of this scale requires close collaboration across engineering, operations, customer experience, planning and commercial teams, as well as leasing companies, suppliers and wider industry partners.

Kerry was present when the first refurbished Turbostar entered passenger service and later watched the first refurbished Voyager pass through Chesterfield during its final test run, marking key milestones in the wider programme.

A supportive industry

Reflecting on her experience in rail engineering, Kerry describes a career shaped by supportive colleagues, managers and mentors.

“I’ve always found the rail industry to be a supportive place to work,” she says. “People are always willing to share their experience and offer support when it’s needed.”

While the industry has changed significantly during her career, Kerry continues to enjoy new challenges and working on projects that allow her to make a practical difference.

Engineering as a foundation

As the industry continues to encourage more young people into engineering, Kerry hopes her story encourages others to explore the opportunities available.

“If you’re interested in engineering, just do it, or use the resources available now to find out more,” she says. “Engineering gives you a strong foundation and develops skills that can take you in lots of different directions.

“When I was at school, I didn’t realise how many different opportunities an engineering background could lead to. My career has involved everything from fleet engineering and train procurement to stakeholder management, commercial negotiations and major programme delivery.”

Chris Light, CrossCountry’s Fleet & Engineering Director, said: “International Women in Engineering Day is our chance to recognise the contribution our engineers make to our industry. Kerry’s work here is vital. The programmes she leads will improve the journey experience for  millions of customers for many years to come.

“Kerry’s career journey demonstrates what a great place the rail sector is to develop as an engineer. I sincerely hope that sharing Kerry’s story encourages even more people to build rewarding careers in rail.”

Established by the Women’s Engineering Society in 2014, International Women in Engineering Day celebrates the achievements of women engineers worldwide while encouraging young people to explore careers in the sector. The 2026 theme, “Engineering Intelligence”, highlights the expertise, creativity and leadership women bring to engineering.