The Great Central Railway has provided industry placements for five students studying for T Level at Loughborough College.

T Level is a two-year course for students aged 16–19. It is a vocational qualification designed to develop their practical knowledge and skills aligned with the needs of industry.

A trial held last year with a student in the railway’s Signal and Telegraph team proved successful, so the Great Central Railway decided to expand the initiative to provide placements in other departments.

During their time on the railway, the students will work on projects and take part in its daily operations, including working in the Infrastructure, Permanent Way, Digital Archive Project, Marketing, and Carriage & Wagon Departments.

As part of their programme at Loughborough College, students must complete 340 hours of industry placement to provide them with first-hand experience in a real working environment.

The Great Central’s initiative will provide them with the requisite experience across various aspects of the railway’s operations, and further strengthen its commitment to skills development and community engagement.

This latest initiative with Loughborough College complements the Great Central Railway’s existing apprenticeship scheme.

It also provides Key Stage 3 work experience for at least seven participants during the current this school in the Loco, Carriage & Wagon, Permanent Way, and Service Delivery departments.

A continued sign of the railway’s investment in creating the talent of tomorrow is its development of new on-site classroom facilities for training and educational visits.

Through its structured industry placements, the Great Central Railway is helping to bridge the gap between education and employment. In doing so, it is equipping young people with the knowledge and experience required for future careers.

Further information about Great Central Railway is online at www.gcrailway.co.uk.

The Great Central Railway’s experience in training was expanded in late 2023 when it acquired two single-car Class 153 diesel multiple units for training drivers on Britain’s main-line railways. Last year, VolkerRail used stretches of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) for a training exercise in tamping.

“This initiative allows us to share our expertise while giving students invaluable industry experience. By engaging them in real-world projects, we hope to inspire the next generation of professionals in heritage rail and beyond.”

David Ellard, Head of People Engagement at Great Central Railway