Iarnród Éireann staff gain from CIPD people development award

Iarnród Éireann gains a CIPD People Development Partner (PDP) award, becoming only the second company in Ireland and the first in five years

Linda Waters, senior employer solutions manager with the CIPD.

Strategic personal development delivers huge benefits for staff and management, say participants in a recent award-winning Iarnród Éireann HR programme.

Iarnród Éireann has been recognised as a CIPD People Development Partner (PDP), becoming only the second company in Ireland and the first in five years to achieve the status. The PDP award recognises Iarnród Éireann’s commitment to professional excellence, strategic capability and the long-term growth of its workforce.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for HR and people development in Ireland. It awards the PDP accreditation to organisations that are dedicated to driving excellence and innovation within their people teams. It benchmarks teams and their capabilities against internationally recognised standards.

As part of its work to achieve PDP status, Iarnród Éireann created a bespoke ‘people standards framework’. More than 50 people professionals contributed through development workshops, ensuring the framework reflected real operational challenges and future workforce demands. 

Ciaran Masterson, HR director with Iarnród Éireann.

In this Q&A interview, Ciaran Masterson, HR director with Iarnród Éireann, and Linda Waters, senior employer solutions manager with the CIPD, outline how taking a strategic approach to personal development benefits both employer and employee.  

How will Iarnród Éireann becoming a CIPD People Development Partner (PDP) and the Rail2050 People Strategy benefit staff at the company?

Ciaran Masterson, HR director, Iarnród Éireann, said: “For Iarnród Éireann, the successful delivery of Rail 2050 will depend on the strength, capability and ambition of our people, both those currently in the organisation and those yet to join. Becoming a CIPD People Development Partner marks an important step in ensuring that our people professionals are equipped to play a central, strategic role in that journey.

“This partnership supports a shift from focusing primarily on optimisation and administration to becoming drivers of long-term value creation. Our People Framework Standards, developed in collaboration with the CIPD, set a clear benchmark for excellence in people practice. Through continued engagement with the CIPD, our HR and people teams will have access to the latest research, learning and professional standards, ensuring they remain at the forefront of best practice.

“For our colleagues across the organisation, this translates into stronger leadership, clearer career pathways, enhanced professional support and a workplace culture aligned to long-term growth and sustainability. Ultimately, investing in our people professionals strengthens the experience and opportunities available to every employee.” 

In what ways did the staff workshops contribute to the bespoke ‘people standards framework’ at Iarnród Éireann? 

Ciaran Masterson said: “The People Framework Standards were not developed in isolation, they were shaped directly by our people. Using the CIPD professional framework as a foundation, we held collaborative workshops where participants were invited to challenge, refine and adapt the language and expectations at every level.

“Attendees were encouraged to edit, add to or amend the competency statements to ensure they reflected the realities of working within Iarnród Éireann. This open and inclusive process ensured the framework is both robust and practical, grounded in international best practice while firmly rooted in the organisation’s own culture and operating environment.

“As HR leaders, we were particularly mindful that these standards would be lived and sustained by our teams. The final framework reflects a genuine consensus and is tailored to Iarnród Éireann. We are extremely proud that it has been formally endorsed as meeting the CIPD’s professional standards.”   

Does Iarnród Éireann see people development as being beneficial to attracting and retaining staff? 

Ciaran Masterson said: “Like many large organisations, our workforce spans several generations, bringing both diversity of perspective and unique challenges. Our approach is rooted in a long-standing commitment to developing talent from within. Many of our HR leaders began their careers in entry-level roles and progressed through structured support and development opportunities.

“‘Valuing our People’ is one of our core corporate values, and it is reflected in our investment in learning and professional growth. A strong reputation for people development enhances retention, as colleagues see clear opportunities to build meaningful careers within the organisation. When colleagues move into supervisory or managerial roles, they bring deep organisational knowledge alongside professional expertise, strengthening leadership capability across the business.

“From an attraction perspective, positioning Iarnród Éireann as a progressive forward-looking employer is essential. As we contribute to a more sustainable national transport system, we want prospective colleagues to see an organisation that invests in its people, supports continuous development at every level and offers long-term career growth as part of Ireland’s infrastructure.” 

How do the CIPD and Iarnród Éireann see their continuing collaboration evolving going forward? 

Linda Waters, senior employer solutions manager, CIPD, said: “Looking ahead, CIPD and Iarnród Éireann see this relationship evolving into an increasingly strategic partnership. What began as a commitment to professional development has grown into a shared ambition to embed excellence in people practice across the organisation.

“Under the leadership of Ciarán, and with John Kennedy spearheading the initiatives, this partnership has gone from strength to strength. Their combined commitment has ensured strong alignment between Iarnród Éireann’s people strategy and the CIPD’s professional standards, embedding excellence in people practice across the organisation.

“Recognition as a CIPD People Development Partner signals Iarnród Éireann’s commitment to professionalising its people function and strengthening workforce capability. Through the partnership, the CIPD will continue to support the organisation with structured learning pathways, tailored development programmes, facilitated workshops, mentoring, access to professional networks and guidance on continuing professional development and HR standards.

“This sustained collaboration is designed to deliver tangible impact, strengthening leadership capability, enhancing employee experience and supporting Iarnród Éireann’s long-term transformation and growth ambitions.”