From Project SPEED to people-powered progress.
Network Rail’s response to the UK’s bold mandate to halve delivery times and boost efficiency recognised that true transformation depends not just on systems, but also on people.
Questions quickly arose in response to this policy…
How do we change the mindset of the people at Network Rail so that they join together and deliver against SPEED principles?
What are the characteristics of the teams that are already achieving SPEED principles?
How can we draw upon their success to help everyone succeed and become high performing in the face of SPEED?
This ultimately led to
How do we create a culture of ‘one team’ and ‘high performance’ at Network Rail?
In partnership with Network Rail, and alongside examining the existing literature, BeTalent by Zircon set out on a journey to explore this.
Mike Wright, Programme Management Director at Network Rail, shares his vision for One Team:
Our joint approach
Starting with a focus on One Team Culture, a self-assessment survey, a set of interviews, and thematic analysis of comments from the ‘learning from lessons’ library were conducted to understand the impact of the previously deployed model, the current state of the business, and perceptions of future needs.
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Narrowing in on high-performing teams, a set of interviews was conducted to understand what makes teams at Network Rail high-performing, followed by a series of workshops to review and validate this information. From here, a ‘blueprint’ for high-performing teams at Network Rail was created.
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Taking the results from both workstreams, we created the Perform framework, where high-performing teams who prioritise having a one team culture Align with purpose and Aspire to high-performance excellence. Resilient teams that do this work together to create a psychologically safe environments, driving innovation and performance.
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The model
The Perform blueprint is a transferable evidence and research-based framework for creating a one team and high-performance culture in organisations within the rail industry.
The research shows that resilient teams who Align and agree on priorities and Aspire to excellence will work together to create a psychologically safe environments that drive innovation and performance.
By actively investing in building teams that are cohesive, collaborative, and striving, we create environments, or climates, that are psychologically safe, ie where people feel safe to speak up and share ideas in order to deliver better outcomes. They are more innovative and deliver safe and resilient railways at an industry-wide level.
Driving change
Network Rail is using BeTalent by Zircon’s validated and robust Psychological Safety and Resilience psychometric tools to understand team profiles - their strengths and their unique risk profiles.
To measure a team’s performance against the Align and Aspire criteria outlined in the Perform framework, we have designed and built a bespoke Team 360, which provides leaders and team members with both data and feedback anonymity in a singular report which includes suggested development activities the team can engage in.
Together, these combine to provide the team and leadership with a depth and perspective never previously seen, enabling them to focus their efforts to drive forward in the places that will have most impact.
More recently, Network Rail has commissioned BeTalent by Zircon to create a more frequent and quicker ‘pulse’ check of a team’s psychological safety and resilience levels, through a shorter assessment tool that can be distributed multiple times a year. These ‘Pulse’ tools take between 3 minutes to complete and will provide macro-level data across the industry whilst providing individuals real-time behavioural nudges.
Our journey with Network Rail
Beginning our partnership in 2022, BeTalent by Zircon and Network Rail have worked together to instil meaningful change within the organisation.
View our Network Rail case study page here.
View our ‘in conversation’ with Mike Wright, Network Rail’s Programme Management Director here.
Who are BeTalent by Zircon?
BeTalent By Zircon use psychometric tools to unlock potential and power performance. We bring together neuroscience, applied psychology, and psychometrics for a smarter, more human approach to talent.
Book Your Meeting at IHHA & WCRR 2025
To discuss more on how we can help your organisation during the IHHA 2025 and WCRR 2025 joint conference, book an in-person meeting via the conference app with:
Antonia Lewry, Client Director for Network Rail, or
Dr Amanda Potter, CEO
Or reach out to us on LinkedIn!
Meet the speakers
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On a mission to transform how organisations optimise their greatest asset: their people, the CEO of BeTalent by Zircon developed a trailblazing platform for talent assessment and development. Amanda has led the charge in revolutionising how businesses approach talent management.
With a captivating blend of charm and credibility, Amanda graces international stages, delivering keynotes and workshops that empower audiences with actionable insights into the psychology and neuroscience behind behavioural change.
As host of the podcast The Chief Psychology Officer, she blends humour and warmth with psychologist-led research while engaging in conversations around enhancing productivity, well-being, and innovation in the workplace.
Recognised as a fellow of the Association of Business Psychologists (ABP) and an Associate Fellow of the Division of Occupational Psychology within the British Psychological Society, Amanda’s commitment to excellence in psychology has earned her esteemed accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ABP.
On stage, Amanda bridges the gap between science and practice, infusing her presentations with entertaining and thought-provoking insights grounded in neuroscience and rigorous research. Driven by a passion for knowledge, she pushes the boundaries of business psychology in a way that takes her audience along for a journey of self-discovery.
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Programme Management Director with 18 years of experience shaping and strengthening one of the world’s most complex rail systems. He leads policy and capability for the c£5 billion per annum, c6,000-project capital portfolio for Network Rail’s five regionally devolved businesses, and is accountable for the policy, frameworks, sponsorship, programme management, people development, change, improvement, and innovation that sit at the heart of how major rail investment is delivered in Britain.A Chartered Project Manager and Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Mike brings together deep technical leadership with an equally deep belief in the power of people. He is the Senior Responsible Owner driving the UK rail industry’s capital investment efficiency programme, delivering £1.6 billion of savings in the last three years while strengthening capability and outcomes across the sector.
His current work focuses on the behavioural foundations of high performance. Mike was the client lead for the research and development of the Perform framework, which explores how collaboration, clarity, accountability, and psychological safety enable faster, safer, better project outcomes. He is passionate about creating the conditions where people can thrive, teams can align around purpose, and major projects can deliver the outcomes passengers and communities deserve.
Mike lives in England and speaks widely on people, culture, and high-performing teams in major programme environments.
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Resilience
The foundations of a strong team begin with self awareness.
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Psych Safety
Forward momentum happens when everyone is safely connected.
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360° Team Review
A bespoke 360° Review designed to help your team stay on track for success.
