Nurturing the human element in rail

The air hums with a familiar energy. It’s 8am at the bustling train platform, a symphony of movement and anticipation. Above, the illuminated board flickers, painting a digital tapestry of journeys and destinations. The rhythmic murmur of conversations blends with the distant rumble of train wheels, interrupted by the automated reminder “Keep behind the yellow line.”

Then a crisp whistle cuts through the atmosphere. A train flagperson with paddle held high, a silent yet understood signal to the driver that the train is “good to go!” With a gentle lurch the colossal machine begins to glide carrying the eager passengers.

Now, imagine this scene but remove every single person. The vibrant platform falls silent. The glowing board is an empty canvas. The whistle unheard. The train a motionless hulk of metal. What remains? What is the face of rail without its people?

c: Primary Engineer

The absence of passengers would be quite noticeable! But its’s not just about the commuters, what about the workers and all those crucial to the industry?

From the engineers meticulously maintaining the lines to the station staff ensuring smooth operations, and the countless unsung heroes behind the scenes with each person playing an indispensable role.

And yet, the absence of people could be a reality with the prospect of an aging workforce and increasing demand for skilled professionals. With it, presents a new challenge. The 2023 Science Education Tracker, produced by Royal Society and Engineering Uk, shows a decline in interest across science and engineering among young people. So how do we attract young people into the industry?

This is where Primary Engineer, an educational not-for-profit, steps onto the platform. For the last 20 years we’ve been on a journey to ignite a passion for engineering early on in primary school pupils across the UK. And for six years, we’ve offered the Primary Engineer Rail Programme. In 2024, we proudly published a comprehensive report looking back at the profound impact of this Programme. Over the years, this initiative has provided over 40,000 exciting and creative rail engineering learning experiences to young minds across the UK. Read the full report here: https://www.primaryengineer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Rail-Report-Interactive.pdf

It’s not just about the numbers though. Primary Engineer Programmes cultivate interest, foster engagement, and broaden awareness of engineering careers, actively breaking down stereotypes. We’ve heard countless inspiring stories: children rushing home to share their builds, pupils declaring their aspirations to become engineers, and even accounts of the programme positively impacting behavioural issues. These are the human stories about potential future rail engineers that truly underscore the profound impact of this initiative.

Take Portway Primary School, for example, who participated in the Primary Engineer Rail Programme. Airina, a teacher there, shared her enthusiasm “The programme provided our students with invaluable hands-on experience and insight into the world of engineering. Our engineer mentor was incredibly engaging, sharing their expertise and inspiring our students with real-world applications of engineering principles. The enthusiasm and curiosity sparked by this collaboration were evident in every session, and we are proud of the skills and knowledge our students have gained. This experience has truly enriched our curriculum and ignited a passion for STEM among our young learners.”

Toby Tsang, Senior Design Engineer Network Rail is one of the engineers who have been involved in our programme. “I have to say it has been a real pleasure to see the children showing the attributes of an engineer – Teamwork, Resilience, initiative, supportive to each other and have fun. I can still remember their face when the train unit moves! I hope my involvement has been useful and inspiring. I hope this may encourage a few of those children to be an engineer.”

It’s because of these two vital faces, the passionate educators and the dedicated engineer, that we can have such a profound and positive impact on pupils, like young Emily. “I really liked making the model and making the wheel elements work, it’s quite fun. And my dad is an engineer as well so I want to be like him!”

The future of the rail industry, indeed, the future of engineering itself, rests in the hands of young people. Inspiring them now, showing them the exciting possibilities within this vital sector, isn’t just a recruitment strategy; it’s investing in the human element to truly connect the industry to the future.

We are looking for partners to help us bring this programme to more schools in the 25/26 academic year. If you want to work with us to inspire the next generation, get in touch here: https://www.primaryengineer.com/funding-enquiry/