Avanti West Coast “Ignite a Change” opens staff ideas hub

Avanti West Coast “Ignite a Change” is a new programme that uses technology to capture and develop staff suggestions, aiming to improve how the operator runs the business and strengthen the customer experience.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

In the official Avanti West Coast Newsdesk announcement, the company describes the approach as a first-of-its-kind for the rail industry.

How Avanti West Coast “Ignite a Change” works?

At its core, the initiative is an employee ideas platform where colleagues can submit proposals focused on a specific business challenge. Avanti West Coast launched the online hub with Sideways 6, an idea management software specialist, so staff have one place to share suggestions, see what others have posted, and collaborate on improvements.

Don’t miss…Amtrak Gold Runner rebrand ties trains and Thruway buses

The platform is open to all employees and is meant to broaden involvement in the ideas process. Colleagues can view submissions, add comments and engage with proposals across the organisation, supporting company-wide collaboration and helping the strongest solutions gain traction.

Sideways 6 platform, AI-powered idea management and integration

The cloud-based system is available via the web or an app, and it has been integrated with tools already used by Avanti West Coast teams. The operator is also using existing online channels — including Microsoft Teams — to engage directly with staff about their proposed solutions.

AI-powered idea management is built into the platform. The software can group similar suggestions and recommend related themes, making it easier for employees to work together and refine submissions — an approach consistent with Sideways 6’s AI-enhanced functionalities described by the company. It also supports the end-to-end flow of capturing ideas, reviewing them and acting on suggestions, with Avanti noting that every idea is acknowledged as part of the process.

Early proposals and focus on improving customer experience

Avanti West Coast says some proposals are already moving toward implementation, including giving staff the ability to apologise and resolve customer problems on the spot, as well as improving onboard announcements.

Anita Brown, Head of Innovation and Engagement at Avanti West Coast, said the programme is designed to help employees turn practical ideas into real changes in how the service is delivered. She added that the partnership with Sideways 6 has helped create a simple, user-friendly platform where colleagues can quickly share suggestions, with the aim of making a meaningful and far-reaching impact on customer experience across the West Coast and beyond.

Simon Dance, CEO of Interact Software — Sideways 6’s parent company — said the partnership underlines the role employee ideas can play in the rail sector. In the Interact Software acquisition announcement, the company positions Sideways 6 as a way to help organisations capture employee input and embed idea management into everyday tools.

By linking the idea management software with the systems Avanti’s teams already use, he added, the approach supports a more open, collaborative culture where every employee can contribute and every suggestion has the potential to drive real impact.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit