Autumn 2025 Day Two
Wednesday 5 November 2025
Leonardo Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton
Learn … hard truths and new opportunities - whether you’re on the up or on the brink
Collaborate … and share your successes and concerns
Takeaway … useable and useful ideas, insights and innovations
Blending support, networking, expert advice and inspiration; enjoy the extensive programme offering valuable opportunities to find new solutions that enhance visitor experiences, streamline operations and help tackle the tough issues.
08.30 Arrival, registration, refreshments and networking
Tea/coffee and refreshments
09.00 Welcome and introduction to the day
Steve Oates Chief Exec, HRA
09.10 What if the visitors, volunteers and staff your railway needs are already here, on the platform, but face too many barriers to ‘get on board’?
“Studies show that neuro-inclusive workplaces achieve up to 30% higher profits and 28% more revenue, demonstrating the transformative power of inclusive leadership and diverse thinking”.
Neuroinclusion unlocks minds, fuels innovation, drives collaboration, enriches culture, sparks fresh ideas and empowers high-performing, forwardthinking organisations to reach their full potential. In this interactive, evidence-informed session, leading speaker on neurodiversity aims to build real-world understanding, challenge misconceptions, and help our railways and tramways create more inclusive environments where every individual can feel valued, supported, and able to succeed.
Richard & Charlie Ferriman Neurodiversity Global
10.10 ‘Preserving the Past, Securing the Future: Why Heritage Railways Must Invest in Apprenticeships’ …
(A UK scheme for Heritage Engineering Apprenticeships)
With an aging workforce, the heritage railway sector faces a critical skills gap. Claire outlines the urgent need for investment in apprenticeship training to teach the next generation of skilled workers, ensuring the preservation of essential engineering and operational expertise before it's lost forever.
Claire Cavaghan Chief Executive, Derwent Training
10.40 Encouraging and retaining a diverse volunteer community
Recruiting and retaining volunteers seems an ever-increasing challenge for most heritage railways and tramways …
In this session, Sophie Allinson, a footplate volunteer on both the Blaenavon & Pontypool Railway and the Tanfield Railway, offers lived experience and insights to help shape how your railway can take action to grow a committed and engaged volunteer base
Sophie Allinson Tanfield Rly
11.10 Break - Networking - Tea/Coffee
11.30 Keynote – Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Making the Case for Heritage Rail in Parliament
Lord Parkinson, newly appointed as HRA’s Chairman, served as Minister for Arts, Heritage and Libraries in the UK Government from 2021 to 2024, and is now remains active in the House of Lords as Shadow Heritage Minister.
A keen advocate of heritage rail and the wider heritage sector, Lord Parkinson will discuss where heritage sits within government and highlight the latest position on Parliamentary Bills and legislation potentially impacting on heritage rail.
In particular, he’ll provide the latest position on his work alongside HRA President Lord Faulkner on their proposed amendment to the Employment Rights Bill to enable young persons under 16 to lawfully volunteer on heritage railways.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Shadow Heritage Minister and Chairman, Heritage Railway Association
12.00 Filming in heritage locations
From ‘Mission Impossible’ to ‘Downton Abbey’ and from ‘All Creatures Great & Small’ to ‘Wodehouse Playhouse’, heritage railways have played their part. But could the sector do more? Is your railway or tramway in the location finders’ contacts book? … Or do you simply not know where to start?
Filming location hires and screen tourism is quickly becoming one of the most vital sources of income for some heritage locations. In this session we discover how more heritage railways and tramways can get in front of the camera!
Christina Pascoe Chief Executive and founder of the Heritage Filming Alliance, and Commercial Development Lead for English Heritage
12.30 The Visitor Economy in 2025 and Tourism Trends and Insights for 2026
There’s a lot of data out there and, with visitor spend tightening, how do you make sense of it all? Nearly three years on from his last presentation at an HRA conference, Jon Young takes us through latest insights into how the weather impacts on decisions to visit attractions, the very real changes in the family market, current consumer attitudes to the continuing cost-of-living crisis, the moves being made by heritage and tourism businesses to attract new audiences, and looks at opportunities for heritage attractions in 2026.
Jon Young Insights Director, Decision House
13:00 Lunch … and the opportunity to network with colleagues
14.00 Experiences to make your attraction attractive
A year on from his last visit to our HRA conferences, Rail Events Vice-President Jarette Ireland, provides insights into how American Heritage Railways are growing their audiences, updates us on plans for the forthcoming Harry Potter experiences, and gives a short overview of the ongoing success of Polar Express for a number of UK railways and tramways.
Jarrette Ireland Vice-President, Rail Events International
14.30 Attracting More Visitors
A selection of tried and tested ideas, events and activities to generate revenue, secures great PR or maybe forms a new income stream …
With speakers from:
Severn Valley Railway
Kent & East Sussex Railway
Talyllyn Railway
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway
The Watercress Line
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
... with Tea Break at around 3pm
16.30 Round-up and Close
Steve Oates HRA Chief Exec
