The Rail Week initiative originated as the brainchild of the networking association, the Young Rail Professionals (YRP). The movement aimed to address the skills shortage in rail-related roles, and to inspire the next generations of our industry through a series of events, visits and talks.
‘This is an open and collaborative programme right across the UK’, said Adam Stead, former YRP Chairman and one of 
the founding promoters of Rail Week. ‘Much has been said about the skills gap, but in my opinion it is a skills crisis. As an industry we need to do much more to achieve the government’s stated objectives of recruiting 30,000 apprentices for the road and rail sectors by 2020. It is essential that we show to students, teachers and parents what we already know — that rail is a great career choice.’
In the months leading up to Rail Week, the concept gained industry and media support, as businesses, including many RFM members, such as SNC Lavalin, Bombardier, East Midlands Trains and Atkins Group, planned Depot tours, exhibitions and school visits across the Midlands, to showcase the vast variety of employment opportunities in the sector.
Nationwide, over 70 organisations held over 150 exceptional site visits, educational activities and behind-the-scenes events, as well as dozens of inspiring STEM school outreach sessions. The Rail Forum Midlands would like to congratulate the YRP for a fantastic week of collaborative events, and thank all those who volunteered, funded and supported the Rail Week movement.
For more information visit; Derby Telegraph, Railway Gazette, @railweek
To get involved with future recruitment drives supported by the RFM, contact Elaineclark@midlandsrail.com
