What our supporters say

 
 
 
Claire Perry MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Transport said:

We are making the biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era, with major projects such as HS2 and Crossrail improving journeys for passengers right across the country.

The career opportunities in rail are huge. And we need skilled young people – men and women – to build a future in the rail industry and help us deliver these projects.

Who doesn’t remember waving at a train as a child and the excitement we felt? It’s a question of harnessing that enthusiasm and helping young people understand what the possibilities are in rail.

That is what Rail Week is doing. I am delighted to support it and I applaud the Young Rail Professionals’ initiative in making it a reality.

 

Mike Brown MVO, Commissioner, Transport for London said:

We are proud to support Rail Week by hosting a number of events, including a tour of the exciting work that is taking place to modernise Bank/Monument Underground station.  To keep the city moving, working and growing, it is vital that we inspire the next generation to consider careers in the transport industry. Many young people are not aware of the diversity of careers in rail, and too many young women think that a career in rail is not for them.

Rail Week gives us the opportunity to change those perceptions and showcase careers for all young people, whether in engineering, quantity surveying, customer services and a huge variety of other roles.

 

Nicola Shaw, CEO of HS1, and author of the recent Shaw Report into the future of Network Rail said:

The need to attract highly-skilled and capable talent is one of the biggest challenges and most exciting opportunities facing the rail industry. The long-term future of the sector is dependent upon drawing in ever more diverse talent to the fantastic careers that are available in rail. Initiatives like Rail Week are commendable for the work that they do in highlighting what the rail industry has to offer young people and graduates, and I’m delighted to support them in encouraging people to consider a career in the sector.

 

David Horne, Managing Director, Virgin Trains East Coast said:

The rail industry is going to be a really exciting industry to be part of in the next few years, we are seeing passenger numbers and investment at record high levels.   We need to attract more great people into the industry who can bring in new skills and new ideas, and who can contribute to the really exciting developments in technology, engineering and customer service that we’ll be making.  Rail Week is an excellent initiative which showcases the exciting opportunities which Britain’s rail industry offers now and in the future.

 

Simon Kirby, Chief Executive, HS2 Ltd said:

HS2 Ltd is proud to support Rail Week and we welcome the opportunity to encourage young people to consider a career in the rail industry, through our programme of STEM inspiration days held in local schools around the country.

There is a growing demand for railway engineering skills across the UK, which HS2 will both need and sustain, so it is excellent to see Young Rail Professionals taking an active part in addressing the skills gap.

As an organisation we want attract the best young talent from across the country and to encourage a greater diversity among those entering a career in all areas of engineering.

 

Sir Terry Morgan CBE, Chairman, Crossrail, and author of the recent Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy said:

There has never been a better time to start a career in the rail industry. More people than ever before are travelling by rail, and with an unprecedented level of investment there is a huge number and variety of roles building, operating and maintaining our rail infrastructure. I would urge young people of all backgrounds to seize the opportunities available in this growing and vital industry.