Students on Fast Track for Railway Careers with the Smallpeice Trust
From 15th to 18st July, forty-eight teenagers from across the UK had the unique opportunity to learn about how technologies come together to create state-of-the-art, safe and efficient railway transport systems. Sponsored by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE) and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), this course forms part of a major initiative to encourage young people to consider railway engineering and railway systems engineering as a possible career in the future.
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, July 28, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Held by the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingham, the students explored a range of subjects including aerodynamics, signaling, train control and wheel rail adhesion. Working in small teams, one half of the students designed and built 1:30 scale crash proof vehicles with teams competing against each other to see which design performed best during testing. The second group of students came up with an automatic train control system for metro type operation, capable of maintaining a safe distance between trains and stopping sufficiently accurately to automatically operate platform screen doors.
Valuable input was provided from Dominique Louis from the UK Rail Accident Investigation Branch who ensured students had a real-world appreciation of why such technology is necessary, while the University of Birmingham delivered a series of masterclasses covering topics such as railway aerodynamics, crashworthiness and the ‘Quest for Speed’. Jon Bentley of The Gadget Show fame surprised the students on the last day by helping to adjudicate the final testing.
As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, the students developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation.
The social programme included a trip to a bowling alley, a film night and the formal dinner at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens where the students and supporting organisations had the opportunity to socialise and share their experiences of the week.
Michael Franklin, LRF Grants Director commented: “LRF is delighted to support Smallpeice’s railway engineering initiatives. Through these hands-on activities, young people gain a real understanding of the challenges facing the industry and how engineers can develop practical solutions. With new network and rolling stock developments planned in the UK, there are vast and exciting opportunities in railway engineering. We want to encourage and inspire young people to take up careers in this fast moving sector.”
Gil Howarth, Chief Executive of NSARE added: “If the Railway Engineering industry is to attract the quantity and quality of young people required for the future, it is imperative that we raise awareness of the opportunities within Railway Engineering. As passenger and freight usage of the UK railways continues to increase the systems required to run them safely and efficiently are growing more and more complex but are often unseen by the public. This course gives a great insight into some of the engineering challenges addressed by those working in the industry every day. We are delighted to be working with The Smallpeice Trust and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and to raise awareness of the exciting career opportunities railway engineering can offer young people.”
Stephen Kent, Teaching Fellow at The University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research & Education commented: “This is the third year that the course has run, and it is encouraging that the students keep coming up with innovative solutions to two of the challenges that the railway industry faces.”
Dr Andrew Cave, Chief Executive of The Smallpeice Trust added, “Thanks to continuing support from NSARE and the LRF, this course has proved a great success for the third year running. The University of Birmingham devised two exceptionally challenging design and make projects for the students to work on which saw all teams working hard to produce sound results.”
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 12 to 18.
About the Lloyd’s Register Foundation:
Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), a UK registered charity and sole shareholder of Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd, invests in science, engineering and technology for public benefit, worldwide.
For more information, visit http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/
The National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE):
NSARE has been established by industry employers to meet the growing demand, both in terms of quality and quantity, for railway engineering skills across the UK.
Its vision is that by 2015 the engineering workforce will have the necessary skills to support the maintenance, development and expansion of a first-class, cost-effective 21st Century railway with every member of the engineering workforce in the railway industry having demonstrable competencies.
For more information, visit www.nasare.org or call Sue Gill, Head of Business development on 07833 714601.
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education:
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education brings together a multidisciplinary team from across the University to tackle fundamental railway engineering problems. The team actively engage with industry, other universities through Rail Research UK-A, and international partners. The centre also delivers the MSc postgraduate programme in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration.
Valuable input was provided from Dominique Louis from the UK Rail Accident Investigation Branch who ensured students had a real-world appreciation of why such technology is necessary, while the University of Birmingham delivered a series of masterclasses covering topics such as railway aerodynamics, crashworthiness and the ‘Quest for Speed’. Jon Bentley of The Gadget Show fame surprised the students on the last day by helping to adjudicate the final testing.
As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, the students developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation.
The social programme included a trip to a bowling alley, a film night and the formal dinner at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens where the students and supporting organisations had the opportunity to socialise and share their experiences of the week.
Michael Franklin, LRF Grants Director commented: “LRF is delighted to support Smallpeice’s railway engineering initiatives. Through these hands-on activities, young people gain a real understanding of the challenges facing the industry and how engineers can develop practical solutions. With new network and rolling stock developments planned in the UK, there are vast and exciting opportunities in railway engineering. We want to encourage and inspire young people to take up careers in this fast moving sector.”
Gil Howarth, Chief Executive of NSARE added: “If the Railway Engineering industry is to attract the quantity and quality of young people required for the future, it is imperative that we raise awareness of the opportunities within Railway Engineering. As passenger and freight usage of the UK railways continues to increase the systems required to run them safely and efficiently are growing more and more complex but are often unseen by the public. This course gives a great insight into some of the engineering challenges addressed by those working in the industry every day. We are delighted to be working with The Smallpeice Trust and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and to raise awareness of the exciting career opportunities railway engineering can offer young people.”
Stephen Kent, Teaching Fellow at The University of Birmingham’s Centre for Railway Research & Education commented: “This is the third year that the course has run, and it is encouraging that the students keep coming up with innovative solutions to two of the challenges that the railway industry faces.”
Dr Andrew Cave, Chief Executive of The Smallpeice Trust added, “Thanks to continuing support from NSARE and the LRF, this course has proved a great success for the third year running. The University of Birmingham devised two exceptionally challenging design and make projects for the students to work on which saw all teams working hard to produce sound results.”
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 12 to 18.
About the Lloyd’s Register Foundation:
Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF), a UK registered charity and sole shareholder of Lloyd’s Register Group Ltd, invests in science, engineering and technology for public benefit, worldwide.
For more information, visit http://www.lrfoundation.org.uk/
The National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE):
NSARE has been established by industry employers to meet the growing demand, both in terms of quality and quantity, for railway engineering skills across the UK.
Its vision is that by 2015 the engineering workforce will have the necessary skills to support the maintenance, development and expansion of a first-class, cost-effective 21st Century railway with every member of the engineering workforce in the railway industry having demonstrable competencies.
For more information, visit www.nasare.org or call Sue Gill, Head of Business development on 07833 714601.
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education:
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education brings together a multidisciplinary team from across the University to tackle fundamental railway engineering problems. The team actively engage with industry, other universities through Rail Research UK-A, and international partners. The centre also delivers the MSc postgraduate programme in Railway Systems Engineering and Integration.
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
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