Spotlight Series: Meet Joe Williams

For our latest Spotlight feature, we spoke with Joseph (Joe) Williams, Legal and Compliance Manager & Data Protection Manager at Merseyrail, currently on a 12-month secondment with Transport UK within the Business Development/Bid team. He reflects on his progression from station assistant to roles within Transport UK’s headquarters, highlighting the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and stepping outside his comfort zone. From receiving a leadership award for outstanding growth to contributing to high-impact projects, his story is one of adaptability and a genuine passion for shaping the future of transport.

How did you begin your career in rail?

I come from a ‘rail’ family. My dad has worked in the industry for 35 years. I remember being 13 years old and accompanying him to work in Liverpool, where he was a station manager. I just thought it was the coolest thing ever! After my 18th birthday, I got a job as a station assistant at Moorfields underground station, and this was the start of my railway journey.

You transitioned from customer-facing roles to legal and compliance roles. What drove this shift, and how has your front-line experience shaped your current work?

My career got off to a fast start. I went from station assistant to station retailer and then to step up assistant manager at Liverpool Central in a short time. After a great couple of years, I decided to pause my station-based career and learn more about the wider business, so I sidestepped into Merseyrail's headquarters on a six-month secondment. My role was six months of scanning cupboards full of paper contracts into digital versions, but I made sure to be the best paper scanner the business had seen! I then continued progressing within Merseyrail HQ over the next 8 years or so to the position of Data Protection Manager. I played a key role in shaping TUK's data protection compliance framework, which ultimately led me to support TUK as a group Data Protection Manager. Merseyrail funded my data protection and compliance qualifications during my 12 years there. I’m grateful to have met some amazing people throughout my career who believed in my potential and pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and grow professionally and personally.

There are a ton of similarities across different roles within rail, whether that be customer-facing roles or legal/compliance work. Working hard, tackling challenges head-on, and leaning on others for support has helped - diamonds really are made under pressure. In the railway industry, everyone is part of a big family, so make the most of it. It’s a great workplace, and you can be as successful as you push yourself to be.

You’re currently on a 12-month secondment with Transport UK Group within the Business Development/Bid team. What does your new role involve, and what are you most excited about? Have you been enjoying the change?

I currently work as a Bid Manager for TUK. My role as Bid Manager is to help design, coordinate and deliver a winning bid for TUK. The bidding world is completely new to me, so it can be intense and quite challenging. However, it’s different, and I am enjoying the change. I’m surrounded by ambitious, like-minded, people. The office has a great atmosphere and a thriving bid team, so I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to see what we can achieve together.

What has been your biggest challenge in preparing for a bid so far?

I have only been here a short time, but you need to be permanently switched on. If you switch off for a second, then you will miss something. Bid periods are short, so I tell myself every day to be relentless in what I need to do for the team. It is intense, but ultimately, you need to help the team to be a fast-paced, well-oiled machine. I pride myself on only having to be shown something once, but I’ve learnt that if you are unsure, just reach out.

What achievement are you most proud of over your 12 years in the rail industry, and how did your drive to succeed contribute to it?

I’ve really excelled in the past couple of years, but enrolling on a 9-month leadership course with Merseyrail was a particular highlight. The course was designed to shape the future leaders of the business, and I was proud to receive the Dale Carnegie Leadership Award, recognised as the individual who demonstrated the most significant personal and professional growth over the course of the training. It meant a lot to me.

What advice would you give your younger self from what you’ve learned working in the railways?

I’d tell my younger self to relax and slow down. Don’t feel pressured to achieve everything by a certain age. I was so hard on myself to hit certain goals before turning 30, but since I turned 30 in January this year, I realise I still have such a long way to go. I’m not even halfway through my career! I’ve learned that if you work hard and stay patient, opportunities will come thick and fast.

What do you like most about working in the rail industry?

I really appreciate the family-like environment. Everyone is working hard and is in it together. It’s great to be surrounded by people from different backgrounds with unique experiences. The industry is also full of opportunities, so you can constantly learn, grow, and try your hand at many different things.

 What excites you about the future of the rail industry?

The rail and bus industry is experiencing one of the biggest periods of change in the last twenty years. I have told anyone who will listen that this is a time of excitement and opportunity, not a time of worry. TUK have a huge role to play in shaping the public transport industry both in the UK and internationally. This feels like a new age for transport and it’s so cool to be a part of it.

What has been the biggest change from working at a Train Operating Company (TOC) level to TUK?

Working at TUK has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. It’s fast-paced with many new challenges and responsibilities. Learning about the bus industry has been fascinating. The change of scenery from 12 years in Liverpool to working in Central London has been a great experience. I did feel a bit of imposter syndrome at first, but it’s completely normal and the support has been great. It was a great career move and has made me more motivated than ever to succeed.