Year 10 Work Experience on the Railway - General Discussion

[Luccar]

Hi I'm a Year 10 student based in North London and I'm looking for work experience in the rail and underground sector if possible ? I'm happy to do anything ! The dates I would be looking for are 23rd to 27th June 2024

 

[Horizon22]

Hi I'm a Year 10 student based in North London and I'm looking for work experience in the rail and underground sector if possible ? I'm happy to do anything !

You should reach out to the companies in question you are looking for. TfL is probably easier to get work experience through than an individual TOC and I would check on their website or a local station and ask.

The dates I would be looking for are 23rd to 27th June 2024

I presume you mean 2025?

 

[Stardustkorps]

I'm a GCSE student hoping to gain some work experience in the rail industry.
Unfortunately, I either can't find anything or many dead ends in old websites.
My dream job is the operational side either guarding or station staff.
Should I start cold emailing my local operators like thameslink and TfL?


Much love,
stardust

 

[Horizon22]

I'm a GCSE student hoping to gain some work experience in the rail industry.
Unfortunately, I either can't find anything or many dead ends in old websites.
My dream job is the operational side either guarding or station staff.
Should I start cold emailing my local operators like thameslink and TfL?


Much love,
stardust

You could contact your operators - don't forget Greater Anglia too.

However even approaching a local station (like Cambridge) and asking at the ticket office or to speak to a supervisor and they might be able to point you in the right direction at the very least.

 

[enginedin]

As someone who has managed work experience and placement students in my (non-rail) organisation, I fear that there will be some health & safety barriers . We don't do anything particularly risky, but we don't allow <16s (partly also because of DBS requirements). I'm not saying "don't do it" (and don't give up!) but it might not be as easy as "going and helping out at your local station", as much as many people here probably remember their own work experience was and wish it was still like this... if your local station aren't very helpful then try contacting the HR / careers department of a couple of local TOCs, e.g. Greater Anglia ([email protected]). Just to manage expectations, you definitely wouldn't be able to do anything classed as "operational", apart from maybe at best shadow a member of staff for a short period of time

 

[Stardustkorps]

Alright, thanks.

 

[Spaceship323]

Alright, thanks.

Get on the careers mailing list of your local train company, then they'll let you know of any positions or apprenticeships that become available

 

[sad1e]

I am a secondary school student looking to do work experience with Chiltern this summer , i have sent an application to Chiltern railways who state on their website that they should be in contact within 2 weeks

It has now been over 8 weeks and multiple emails to them with no response. Any ideas what the best course of action would be , Should i go to Marylebone and ask a member of staff about it.

Chiltern's Page on work experience

 

[PK96]

I think you should try to reach out again.. but by no means you can go Marylebone. Just very unsure how successful that will be.

 

[swrfanatic]

Wrote to them last year for work experience, no response. I don't think its a thing they want to pursue anymore.

 

[sad1e]

Any ideas where else I could pursue railway based work experience in North London as it seems like I won't be getting a response from Chiltern

 

[gatters]

have all of the multiplle emails you've sent gone to the same address? there's every chance that someone has changed role and now nobody monitors that inbox and noone realises

 

[Horizon22]

Any ideas where else I could pursue railway based work experience in North London as it seems like I won't be getting a response from Chiltern

You could try looking through TfL (check their careers page) for any opportunities as you are in reasonable distance of this area.

 

[Simon11]

What type of work experience are you looking for? Are you just interested in the operational side, or would you consider an office based role within the rail industry?

If so, what courses have you taken and what skills do you have.

You may be lucky that someone here may be in a position to offer something outside the traditional work placement schemes.

 

[sad1e]

have all of the multiplle emails you've sent gone to the same address? there's every chance that someone has changed role and now nobody monitors that inbox and noone realises

Yes I have all sent them to the same address, I'll try to send them to the Chiltern customer support email address and see if I get a response from that.

 

[Solowilliams]

Hello, My 15 year old son in year 10 is seeking work
Experience with TFL to run between April 7-11.
Can anyone direct me on how to or who should I reach out to?
Thank you.

 

[greatkingrat]

You mean in a week's time? I'm afraid you have left it far too late to possibly arrange anything.

 

[transportphoto]

Mod Note: I’ve just merged a few recent Work Experience related threads to create a discussion as an ongoing concern

 

[JohnwickB]

Hi, I would be extremely grateful, if anyone could give me advice on how to arrange work experience with TFL? I have sent out emails to bus companies and other head office email addresses, but heard nothing back. I am 16 and currently studying for my GCSE’s. My exams finish in late June, and will be free for the whole summer.

Thanking you all in advance

 

[Mawkie]

Everyone I've seen do work experience has known someone that works within TfL already and they have asked locally. Do you know any staff who could ask their managers?

It is strange being handed my paperwork by a 15 or 16 year old behind the desk.

Edit: presumably you've had a look here? Not sure if it's what you're looking for.

Everyone’s Future Counts

TfL's work experience and employment schemes

tfl.gov.uk

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

I am a careers leader for a school in west London.

First port of call should be the careers leader in your school. Their initial response might be 'we don't do work experience', but perservere and they should support you to find your own placement. Mention to them that you doing work experience will help the school meet Gatsby benchmark 6 and Ofsted look at these closely.

Have you considered what you want to do at TfL? It is a huge organisation with a diverse range of roles. Does your e mail make it clear what you are interested in (without being overly prescriptive) doing during work experience? Some young people will look for office based placements whilst others might want more hands on practical placements.

Have you also considered what you hope to acheive / gain from doing work experience?

The London Transport Museum is always looking for volunteers. I recently took part in a focus group with them and know they are keen to engage with younger and under represented audiences.

E mails to the head office will often be ignored as the person reading them doesn't know who to forward it to and it gets deleted. Have a look at this website. It is aimed at teaching staff but gives you a flavour of what TfL offers for students and might yield a contact who can point you in the right direction.

 

[Azure_wolf32]

I've been looking in to trying to organise work experience for myself for the week beginning 30th June. I really want a placement on the railway but I've been struggling to find a way to even ask at companies. Does anyone know of where and how I could ask for a placement? I've heard that you should contact station managers about this bur I'm not sure how I would. My local station is Barnstaple but I already asked in the ticket office and they said they didn't do It there. Other stations I could do would be exeter st davids/ Central or any London station preferably (but not limited to) ones easily accessible via the windrush/East London line as I have relatives there. If anyone could provide any useful advice or even get me a placement I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[enginedin]

Hi @Azure_wolf32 This was asked relatively recently: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...nce-on-the-railway-general-discussion.276141/ - you might find some useful info there. Please don't be despondent about some of the replies, there will be ways to do work experience, but it's often the case that finding the correct person in a large organisation might take a bit of effort!

tl;dr: try emailing / phoning the recruitment team of your local TOC (presumably GWR) and see if they have someone who can help organise work experience. Feel free to come back with any questions you have!

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

I am a careers leader for a school in west London.

First port of call should be the careers leader in your school. Their initial response might be 'we don't do work experience', but perservere and they should support you to find your own placement. Mention to them that you doing work experience will help the school meet Gatsby benchmark 6 and Ofsted look at these closely.

Have you considered what you want to do at TfL? It is a huge organisation with a diverse range of roles. Does your e mail make it clear what you are interested in (without being overly prescriptive) doing during work experience? Some young people will look for office based placements whilst others might want more hands on practical placements.

Have you also considered what you hope to acheive / gain from doing work experience?

The London Transport Museum is always looking for volunteers. I recently took part in a focus group with them and know they are keen to engage with younger and under represented audiences.

E mails to the head office will often be ignored as the person reading them doesn't know who to forward it to and it gets deleted. Have a look at this website. It is aimed at teaching staff but gives you a flavour of what TfL offers for students and might yield a contact who can point you in the right direction.

This arrived in my inbox today. Cannot vouch for quality or safety of this placement so the young person and parent / carer should be checking this themselves.


SRE Work Experience Placement

Our work experience placement is a week-long introduction to the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE). The SRE is a 10-year renewals programme, updating our track across Kent, Wessex, and Sussex. Students will rotate between different teams to get an idea of the roles and functions involved in running a large-scale programme, from commercial to engineering, HR to Environment. Students will get hands-on experience and shadowing opportunities, as well as support and insights from industry professionals. Students will also be set a challenge on their placement week. The challenge will be chosen by the students and will reflect live challenges we have faced on the project, with final presentations taking place on the final day of the placement. Our placement week will require in-person attendance and take place at Network Rail head offices, near Blackfriars station in London. Hybrid work experience weeks can also be arranged on request and subject to agreement. A full address and instructions will be provided on confirmation of your placement. While our offices are owned by Network Rail, you will be working alongside professionals from a range of companies including Network Rail, VolkerRail, AtkinsRealis, Octavius and VolkerFitzpatrick. Open to Year 10 and Year 11 students, aged 15-16. We are also able to offer work experience placement weeks to older students, from age 16-18. Our placement weeks run throughout the year, and we are flexible on start dates. Demand is generally higher in June and July each year. To enquire, please email [email protected] and [email protected], highlighting your interest.