Emma Dymond, founder and CEO of specialist rail systems engineering company Motion Rail, has been named one of this year’s top high-achieving entrepreneurs under 40 in Wales.
Emma is one of 25 Rising Stars to feature in the list compiled by B2B magazine Insider (https://www.insidermedia.com/rising-stars/wales/2021) and shares her business purposes, key decisions, plans and the people and organisations that have supported her along the way.
“Being named one of Wales’ 25 Rising Stars is a real honour and I am very proud to be included among such an amazing group of entrepreneurs,” comments Emma.
“But the success of Motion Rail is not about one person, it is a team effort and the company would not be where it is today without the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.
“Despite the challenges of the past 12 months, the business continues to grow and thrive.
“We remain committed to delivering innovative, safe designs and building multi-functional resilient solutions, future-proofing infrastructure across the UK rail network.”
The accolade is the latest in an ever-growing list of awards achieved by both Emma and her Gwent-based business.
Motion Rail was named the 2020 Blaenau Gwent Business of the Year in addition to winning the Small Business of the Year title.
It was also named the seventh fastest growing company in Wales and won the Joint Growth Award in the 2020 RIA Rise Awards.
Motion Reality, the company’s not-for-profit arm which designed innovative virtual reality technology to educate school children about level crossing safety won the Safety Achievement of the Year title at the 2020 National Rail Awards, the Rail Business Awards Education and Training Excellence award and was highly commended in the RIA Rise Awards safety category.
While Emma won the prestigious title of Inspirational Woman of the Year 2020 in the Women in Rail Awards.
Founded in 2009, SME Motion Rail specialises in integrating and modifying legacy and digital rail equipment, with solutions considering whole-life costs from design through to implementation and maintenance, ensuring value for money and delivering effective engineering.
Telecommunications engineer Emma launched the business from home, aged just 28, and now employs 37 staff. The team has worked on several high-profile national projects including Crossrail, Thameslink and The Greater West Electrification.
Earlier this year, Motion Rail was awarded a Network Rail provisional Principal Contractor Licence permitting the company to tender for rail communication and electrical services projects.
In 2018, the company developed a pioneering virtual reality railway in partnership with the Centre of Excellence in Mobile and Emerging Technologies designed to educate about the dangers posed by railways.
Endorsed by Network Rail, not-for-profit Motion Reality was originally used to train railway workers how to manage hazardous environments while working on or near the tracks.
The VR and gamification technology was adapted to be taken into schools and, to date, has educated more than 300,000 youngsters about level crossing safety – using real-life scenarios in a safe environment.
