Railway related work experience for a Year 10 Student

[ynglwz]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

 

[RPI]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

GWR certainly have done this, as I'm sure other TOC's do, if you can do so in London then may be worth getting hold of the station manager at Paddington, if you happen to be passing by Paddington pop in and speak to one of the customer ambassadors who will be able to help, they're the ones with the gold tie.

 

[ynglwz]

Thank you for your help, RPI. I'm currently not in London at the moment, but I'm thinking of emailing GWR and asking them do you think that will be the appropriate steps forward?

 

[jackot]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

Hi Lewis. I do know of This virtual work experience with LNER you could try. Although its' just virtual and might not count if you are looking to do it for school, it should still give you a good insight.

As far as proper work experience goes, I have seen SWR and GWR do it in the past. My advice would be to drop them an email or even better speak to someone in person as suggested above - the best way to get into things like this is to network a bit and reach out to as many people as you can.

There is a lot going on with the railways in general at the moment and lots of work experience schemes haven't return since Covid for a lot of companies so I can't guarantee you anything, but best of luck finding a placement!

 

[zwk500]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

You could ask DB at Doncaster if they have anything, or possibly Network Rail in Peterborough or even MK. I know NR have given office based work experiences before.
If you have a specific area of the industry you'd be interested in there may be more specific answers.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

I'm definitely sure that you'll be able to get something, just make sure that you check any age requirements with managers etc! I've been able to secure a work experience placement for a week in June with TfW so multiple companies do do it!

 

[ynglwz]

Thank you Jackot yes, I'm doing it for school, so that won't count, but thank you very much for the recommendation!

I'm definitely sure that you'll be able to get something, just make sure that you check any age requirements with managers etc! I've been able to secure a work experience placement for a week in June with TfW so multiple companies do do it!

Hi SuperLuke2334 Yes my dates are set in may. Just out of interest what will you be doing for your work experince. Hope all goes well!

You could ask DB at Doncaster if they have anything, or possibly Network Rail in Peterborough or even MK. I know NR have given office based work experiences before.
If you have a specific area of the industry you'd be interested in there may be more specific answers.

Hi zwk500, Thank you for your recommendations I will look at these options!

 

[RPI]

Thank you for your help, RPI. I'm currently not in London at the moment, but I'm thinking of emailing GWR and asking them do you think that will be the appropriate steps forward?

Yes email GWR customer services and they'll point you in the right direction.
There is also the GWR apprenticeship scheme.

 

[ynglwz]

Thank you all for your recomendations so far!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@ynglwz. Welcome to the forum. Have you considered getting work experience with a heritage railway?

 

[ynglwz]

@ynglwz. Welcome to the forum. Have you considered getting work experience with a heritage railway?

Hello MCR Warrior, No I haven't but i would prefer to do something like EMR or SWR more as I think i will prefer it more. Thank you for your reply!

 

[800001]

LNER have had people on work experience at stations many a time.

I would email there HR department to ask.

Also if you have twitter, post a tweet and tag David Horne, I’ve seen him reply with a contact.

 

[Lucy1501]

I'm currently a year 13 student (who was in year 12 last year) who sought work experience in July 2022. I was not able to get a full week-long placement, and in the end I received a one-day site visit to a depot.

Network Rail informed me they had a policy against offering work experience – this could just have been in my local area however. Most train operating companies I contacted seemed open to offering work experience in the likes of ticket offices or office-based positions at most, however couldn't offer a placement in my area due to staffing shortages.

Heritage railways are also a good option and substantially easier to get work experience with – though if you’re looking at getting a job on the “proper” railway it might not be looked at in the same light.

I would advise that you start by getting in contact through the support lines of rail companies or the contact details for any managers in an area your interested in.

I (and others who I have spoken to) also found that if you have a contact in a rail company, its much easier to get work experience organised. Ask round your teachers, family, etc. I was able to get that depot visit organised through a teacher’s friend – they’d have offered me a week-long placement if the rules left over from Covid banning placements weren’t still in force.

If your looking for a career in the industry your doing the right thing. Attempting to get experience and show that you have a real interest in working in a rail company will look great to any recruiter. Just remember its a safety critical industry, so both what you can do and what the employer is willing to let you do is quite limited.

 

[ynglwz]

LNER have had people on work experience at stations many a time.

I would email there HR department to ask.

Also if you have twitter, post a tweet and tag David Horne, I’ve seen him reply with a contact.

Hello 800001, Yes I have twitter so what should I tweet to Lner and David Horne? Should i say something along the lines of i am looking for work experience is this available in your company?

I'm currently a year 13 student (who was in year 12 last year) who sought work experience in July 2022. I was not able to get a full week-long placement, and in the end I received a one-day site visit to a depot.

Network Rail informed me they had a policy against offering work experience – this could just have been in my local area however. Most train operating companies I contacted seemed open to offering work experience in the likes of ticket offices or office-based positions at most, however couldn't offer a placement in my area due to staffing shortages.

Heritage railways are also a good option and substantially easier to get work experience with – though if you’re looking at getting a job on the “proper” railway it might not be looked at in the same light.

I would advise that you start by getting in contact through the support lines of rail companies or the contact details for any managers in an area your interested in.

I (and others who I have spoken to) also found that if you have a contact in a rail company, its much easier to get work experience organised. Ask round your teachers, family, etc. I was able to get that depot visit organised through a teacher’s friend – they’d have offered me a week-long placement if the rules left over from Covid banning placements weren’t still in force.

If your looking for a career in the industry your doing the right thing. Attempting to get experience and show that you have a real interest in working in a rail company will look great to any recruiter. Just remember its a safety critical industry, so both what you can do and what the employer is willing to let you do is quite limited.

Thank you for your help!

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Hi SuperLuke2334 Yes my dates are set in may. Just out of interest what will you be doing for your work experince. Hope all goes well!

To be honest, not really sure yet! It'll likely be a variety of things at my local station.

 

[ynglwz]

To be honest, not really sure yet! It'll likely be a variety of things at my local station.

Hope it goes well!

 

[LowLevel]

EMR have done work experience before - it's got to be worth emailing them. Try dropping them a line here https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/form/careers-contact or if you're anywhere near Lincoln Station you could do worse than calling in and asking to speak to the station manager.

 

[ynglwz]

EMR have done work experience before - it's got to be worth emailing them. Try dropping them a line here https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/form/careers-contact or if you're anywhere near Lincoln Station you could do worse than calling in and asking to speak to the station manager.

Thank you, yes I will go to Lincoln train station as I regularly commute through there and in this instance I will speak to the station manager face to face as its more professional.

 

[800001]

Hello 800001, Yes I have twitter so what should I tweet to Lner and David Horne? Should i say something along the lines of i am looking for work experience is this available in your company?


Thank you for your help!

Yes, a simple tweet asking if work experiment is something possible at LNER, tag LNER and Horne.

 

[penguin8967]

I'm in the process of trying to secure a week of work experience later this year. So far contacted GWR and Network Rail. GWR got back to me almost instantly telling me that work experience is organised by the local station or team, haven't had a proper response back from NR yet.

 

[RPI]

I'm in the process of trying to secure a week of work experience later this year. So far contacted GWR and Network Rail. GWR got back to me almost instantly telling me that work experience is organised by the local station or team, haven't had a proper response back from NR yet.

Where is your local GWR station?

 

[penguin8967]

Where is your local GWR station?

Swindon

 

[fgwrich]

As you’re in Lincolnshire, GBRf at Peterborough maybe worth a shout too?

I know SWT used to be very keen on doing work experience (I was offered it those years back but regretfully turned it down - I’d had enough of being that Railway one in school by that point!), however I’m not sure if things have changed under SWR.

 

[Annetts key]

Hello, this is my first post. I'm unsure if this is the correct section to write this in, and if it isn't, I apologize. However, I am a Year 10 student looking for work experience in the railway. I'm located in Lincolnshire but I'm able to do placements in London and Surrey as well. Is there anyone who knows of any companies that have work experience?
Kind regards,
Lewis,

Unfortunately, COVID19 and the current poor industrial relations have complicated matters. But the infrastructure companies (BR, then the various private companies) have had young people doing work experience in the past.

I don’t know what your interests are. Or if you are after anything railway related.

Within the railway, there are customer facing jobs, various engineering jobs, and many, many in between as well as the obvious train driver, guard, signaller etc.

But here is a public web page for Network Rail https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/early-careers/ that may help. Also use any other social media communications to ask.

Note that large stations such as London Paddington are run and staffed by Network Rail. But most stations are operated and staffed by the relevant TOC.

 

[ynglwz]

I'm in the process of trying to secure a week of work experience later this year. So far contacted GWR and Network Rail. GWR got back to me almost instantly telling me that work experience is organised by the local station or team, haven't had a proper response back from NR yet.

Ok so will the local station or team advertise it or,will they email you back to let you know?

Unfortunately, COVID19 and the current poor industrial relations have complicated matters. But the infrastructure companies (BR, then the various private companies) have had young people doing work experience in the past.

I don’t know what your interests are. Or if you are after anything railway related.

Within the railway, there are customer facing jobs, various engineering jobs, and many, many in between as well as the obvious train driver, guard, signaller etc.

But here is a public web page for Network Rail https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/early-careers/ that may help. Also use any other social media communications to ask.

Note that large stations such as London Paddington are run and staffed by Network Rail. But most stations are operated and staffed by the relevant TOC.

Yes I have a keen interest for the railway. Especially LU but I haven't seen any work experience advertised with them hence why I am looking at other train operator's.

 

[penguin8967]

Ok so will the local station or team advertise it or,will they email you back to let you know?

I don't think many (if any) rail companies actually advertise work experience placements themselves. I sent a letter in but haven't heard anything since.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

HS2 are also good providers of work experience, some of it virtual.

Springpod.com is a useful portal for finding virtual opportunities across a range of sectors.

 

[ynglwz]

I don't think many (if any) rail companies actually advertise work experience placements themselves. I sent a letter in but haven't heard anything since

ahhh ok thanks for your help!

HS2 are also good providers of work experience, some of it virtual.

Springpod.com is a useful portal for finding virtual opportunities across a range of sectors.

yes I've had a look on springpod but ideally I need it physical not virtual.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

ahhh ok thanks for your help!


yes I've had a look on springpod but ideally I need it physical not virtual.

Springpod is a useful way of finding additional experiences, they are well thought of by university admissions tutors / recruiters.

For physical placements have you spoken to whichever member of staff at your school is overseeing this? The school has a statutory duty to ensure that your placement is fit for purpose and does not put you at risk. The railway would probably offer a ‘high risk’ placement which will require additional checks by your school or their appointed provider.

 

[RPI]

Swindon

If there's one station you're likely to find someone senior, its Swindon