Friday 1 Jul 2016
Welsh school children encouraged to consider careers in rail industry during first-ever Rail Week event
- Region & Route:
- | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
- | Wales & Western
Employees from Network Rail visited a number of Newport schools this week in a bid to bridge the skills gap and inspire a new generation of children into rail careers.
The sessions took place during the first-ever Rail Week (27 June-3 July), an industry-wide initiative showcasing career opportunities in rail.
Rail Week has been developed by professional networking association Young Rail Professionals, and aims to promote the exciting projects, facilities and range of jobs a career in rail can bring.
A UK-wide programme of activities has taken place throughout this week in schools, colleges and universities, led by rail industry ambassadors, including those from Network Rail.
Schools visited in Newport included Gaer Primary School, Maesglas Primary School, St Davids Primary School and Duffryn Junior School, with Network Rail and Communities First jointly coordinating the sessions.
Children participated in interactive quizzes and heard from a range of Network Rail ambassadors, as well as being reminded of the dangers that the railway can bring if it isn’t used safely.
Joanna Cheeseman, HR business partner at Network Rail in Wales said: “Rail Week has been a great opportunity for us to engage with local schools and inspire a generation of young people to consider future careers in rail.
“The rail industry has a lot of exciting and dynamic career paths and we’re keen to help bridge the skills-gap and emphasise just how many opportunities there are for a broad range of people at companies like Network Rail.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
For more information on Rail Week, visit www.railweek.com
Picture caption: Dan Partridge, Rail Life Ambassador, Charles Varey, lead programme development manager and Tracey Young, community safety manager, with pupils from Duffryn Junior School, Newport, during the first ever Rail Week
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Journalists
Network Rail press office - Nichole Sarra
Senior Communications Manager (Wales)
Network Rail
07730362397
Nichole.Sarra@networkrail.co.uk
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