Latest News | 24 June 2021
Forum backs primary schools rail engineering project
Rail Forum Midlands is working with industry and government to back a project which aims to engage and inspire primary school children across the region.
The forum, which represents rail firms across the region, has become a funding partner for the Primary Engineer Rail Project, providing 12 primary schools in the East Midlands the opportunity to engage with inspiring STEM projects.
Rail Forum Midlands has brought together funding from the Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Hitachi Rail and Porterbrook to bring the Primary Engineer Rail Project to schools in the region.
Further companies will be involved, providing volunteers to support the delivery of the projects in schools.
The collaboration will see engineering professionals from a wide range of backgrounds and specialities working alongside pupils and teachers.
A one-day, practical course for teachers will provide them with the know-how and kit to deliver the whole-class, rail-orientated engineering projects with engineering professionals providing a real-life context to the project.
Elaine Clark, chief executive of Rail Forum Midlands, said: “We have supported education outreach into secondary schools for many years and have long held the aspiration to get more involved with younger aged pupils.
“Thanks to BEIS, who have acted as a catalyst to pull key companies together, we are delighted to now be able to deliver the Primary Engineer Rail project across the East Midlands.
“We plan to build on this initial start adding more schools across the wider region in the coming years.”
Business Minister Lord Callanan said: “I am enormously proud to support the Primary Engineer programme, which, along with Rail Forum Midlands and industry partners, will help to educate and inspire the next generation of engineers.
“This scheme is hugely ambitious, helping school children across the East Midlands, one of the rail industry’s traditional heartlands, to ignite their interest in the fundamentals of engineering for years to come.”
