Fourteen Year 8 students from Bolsover School visited East Midlands Railway (EMR) headquarters in Derby to explore career opportunities across the UK rail industry.

Supported by Bolsover District Council and funded by East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry and the Community Rail Network, the group took part in a hands-on programme for the day.

Students were invited to operate a driver training simulator, learning about signalling and the rules of train operation in an interactive setting

A ticket retail session introduced students to the mechanics of Advance Purchase and Season Tickets, alongside the process of issuing e-tickets.

Students also had the opportunity to meet East Midlands Railway managers from Marketing, Community Rail, Driver Operations, Fleet Engineering, Talent and Apprenticeships, helping to gain insight into a wide range of roles and entry routes into the railway sector industry pathways.

“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.”

Leanne Barrie, Communications Manager and Women’s Network Lead at EMR.

“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.”

Debbie Crossley, Bolsover School.