Rail operator gives students insight into career opportunities

East Midlands Railway has been giving students from a Derbyshire school an in insight into the wide range of career opportunities available across the rail industry.

The rail operator recently welcomed a group of Year 8 students from Bolsover School for a hands-on experience at its Derby headquarters, which included an opportunity to operate a driver training simulator.

They also participated in a session on ticket retail, where they explored different ticket types, including Advance Purchase and Season Tickets, as well as how to issue e-tickets.

During the visit, which was supported by Bolsover District Council and funded by EMR, CrossCountry and Community Rail Network, students met with EMR managers from a variety of departments, giving them valuable insight into the range of roles available within the railway and the different pathways into the industry.

Debbie Crossley, from Bolsover School, said: “Employer sponsored school trips offer a range of benefits that can significantly enhance the educational experience for students.

“Our students loved the real-world experience of the train simulators and ticketing activity; these were engaging and fun activities.

“Students said they loved the day out, and they found out a lot of jobs and careers which they had not known about before.”

Sophie Haley from Direct Education Business Partnership (DEBP), supported organising the event with EMR said: “This was a fantastic careers event, made possible by EMR’s drive, passion and commitment to giving young people a meaningful insight into the railway.

“The feedback from students shows how much this experience has broadened their understanding of the rail industry and the opportunities available to them.”

Leanne Barrie, communications manager and Women’s Network Lead at EMR, said: “The railway industry offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding careers.

“From engineering and customer service to train driving and communications, there really is something for everyone.

“I am passionate about creating opportunities like this to introduce young people to the industry.

“Working with Bolsover School and DEBP has been incredibly rewarding, and we hope to deliver more events like this for schools across the East Midlands in the future.”