09/06/2024 | Press release | Archived content
A Minister at the UK's Department for Transport and former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Deafness, today visited our Nottingham office to learn more about what we do in the UK, to meet our team and for a site tour and demonstration of our Inform range of solutions.
Lilian Greenwood MP, is member of parliament for Nottingham South constituency. Her visit was facilitated by the Railway Industry Association's Rail Fellowship Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening relationships between politicians and rail suppliers.
During the visit, Ms. Greenwood met David Clark, Ian Beeley, Anthony Thompson and Dagan Bradbury from our European business, who introduced the MP to L.B. Foster and provided a demonstration of our pioneering British Sign Language (BSL) capability on our Inform customer information screens. Inform has improved the travel experience for all passengers, particularly those hard of hearing, and are setting new standards in customer information and accessibility.
Lilian Greenwood MP said, "It was inspiring to see how L.B. Foster, a company deeply rooted in my Nottingham constituency, is leading the charge in technological innovation within the rail industry and beyond. As the most recent chair of the APPG for Deafness, I was especially impressed with their commitment to accessibility for the deaf community and their ability to create solutions that have a global impact. This is a true testament to the strength and creativity of our local manufacturing sector here in Nottingham."
Eli Rees-King, RIA Midlands & Eastern Business Engagement Manager, said: "L.B. Foster's British Sign Language screens are an exemplary example of how technology and innovation can foster a more inclusive and accessible environment in the railway and beyond. We were delighted to have esteemed Minister Lillian Greenwood join the Rail Fellowship Programme and observe the diverse work of the rail supply chain."
British Sign Language is the preferred language of over 87,000 d/Deaf people in the UK. Anthony Thompson, Senior Business Development Manager, L.B. Foster, said: "Our unique BSL software provides the d/Deaf community with timely access to critical travel information. Following our success at London Euston station, we're really proud to have rolled out this innovative hardware and software technology across the UK rail network. It demonstrates the depth of engineering and high-level computer skills that we have here in Nottingham, which is helping improve how the d/Deaf community is now able to travel."