EMR welcomes Bolsover School students to explore careers on the railway
- Students experienced a driver training simulator and learned how to sell train tickets
- EMR managers from across the business were on hand to share insights and answer questions
- Visit aimed to deepen understanding of the railway’s role as a vital community transport link
A group of students from Bolsover School visited East Midlands Railway (EMR) headquarters in Derby to discover the wide range of career opportunities available across the rail industry.
Supported by Bolsover District Council and funded by EMR, CrossCountry and Community Rail Network, the 14 Year 8 students took part in a hands-on experience, including the opportunity to operate a driver training simulator. This allowed them to learn about signalling and the rules of train operation in an engaging and interactive way. 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, students met with EMR managers from a variety of departments, including Marketing, Community Rail, Driver Operations, Fleet Engineering, and Talent and Apprenticeships. This gave them valuable insight into the range of roles available within the railway and the different pathways into the industry.
One of the students from Bolsover School, said: “The careers day at EMR was fantastic. I really enjoyed using the simulator and learning more about how I could pursue a career in engineering.”
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.”
ENDS