Casting the spotlight back to the Education Awards 2026 earlier this year, Iarnród Éireann took home both the Best Graduate Training Programme award and the Best Workforce Upskilling Initiative award, recognised for a dual commitment to talent development that spans the full employee lifecycle, from attracting and developing graduate talent to upskilling its existing workforce in line with the ambitions of its Rail2050 Strategy.

The Best Graduate Training Programme recognised the Iarnród Éireann Graduate Development Programme for a strategically coherent approach combining international rotations, bespoke masterclasses, the 70-20-10 learning framework, and structured coaching, backed by strong retention figures and stakeholder endorsements that gave judges clear evidence of its impact on future leadership development.

Judges stated: "This entrant presented a well-designed, strategic graduate development programme that focuses on future talent. With international rotations, bespoke masterclasses, structured coaching, and mentoring, the initiative shows a clear commitment to talent growth. The integration of research, the 70–20–10 framework, and workforce planning demonstrates a forward-thinking approach, supported by strong retention figures and stakeholder endorsements."

Meanwhile, the Best Workforce Upskilling Initiative brought focus to Iarnród Éireann's commitment to its existing workforce, with a comprehensive, evidence-backed upskilling programme aligned to the Rail2050 Strategy that reached a wide number of employees and demonstrated sector-wide influence well beyond a standard training initiative.

The panel added: "This entrant stood out for its clear focus and impact, offering a comprehensive approach to upskilling across the sector. Supported by solid evidence and statistics, it reaches a wide number of employees, providing real benefits to their careers. The submission highlights the initiative's far-reaching influence and demonstrates a strong commitment to employee growth and sector-wide improvement."

The two awards together position Iarnród Éireann as a benchmark for workforce development excellence in the Irish education and training landscape, demonstrating that investment in people at every career stage is as central to organisational transformation as infrastructure and technology.

The Education Awards 2026 gala took place on 16 April at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath. Entries for the 2027 cycle are now open, with submissions closing on 18 December 2026.

Visit the official Education Awards website to submit your entry for the 2027 cycle and subscribe to the newsletter for more updates and insights.