The SNCF's aim is to attract skilled individuals who reflect the diversity of its customers.

The Corporate Action and Diversity Prize has given the SNCF a real boost. Claude Mwangelu is the new Head of Diversity, following in the footsteps of Karim Zéribi - and he has decided to intensify the company's action in this area. The big aim is to make diversity a key asset for our corporate performance.

It all starts with a survey of HR processes, from the perspective of diversity. What promotes equal opportunities, and what hinders it? The idea is to break down prejudice and stereotypes, one by one, to open wide the doors to the SNCF and to ensure equality in career development opportunities.

A few key figures illustrate the task before us and our ambitions. The SNCF has 18% female staff... could do better. In 2008, the SNCF recruited 130 disabled workers, in line with our objective of 500 new disabled recruits, 100 apprentices and 600 interns between 2008 and 2011. 2010 looks set to be all about the generation game! The SNCF is launching a senior workers' action plan, and at the same time will have more than 5,000 young people on work-linked training programmes.

Read Claude Mwangelu's reportWatch the interviews