A group of aspiring engineers swapped the classroom for the railway as they stepped onto live infrastructure projects to see how Britain’s rail network is built, maintained and protected.
Four year 12 students from South Devon UTC in Newton Abbot, part of Education South West, completed a four-day work placement with Network Rail, giving them first-hand experience of careers across the railway and construction industries.
Delivered across two weeks, the placement combined site visits, practical experiences and talks from industry professionals. The programme was designed to give students a clearer understanding of how major infrastructure projects operate and the variety of roles involved in delivering them.
During the first visit, students travelled to Bristol Temple Meads station where they were introduced to several ongoing and completed projects across the historic site. The visit provided an overview of how large-scale infrastructure improvements are planned, managed and delivered.
The following day began at the Dawlish sea wall, where students learned about coastal defence engineering and the challenges of protecting critical rail links from extreme weather.
They later visited Exeter St David’s depot with Great Western Railway, where they explored train simulators, maintenance facilities and depot operations to understand how rolling stock is serviced and managed.
The final two days of the placement involved visits to live project sites across Devon and Cornwall. Students observed bridge renewal works, new station developments and building refurbishments while working alongside construction managers and project teams to see how projects are delivered safely and efficiently.
The placement forms part of South Devon UTC’s wider approach to employer engagement, allowing students to apply classroom learning to real-world projects and gain insight into potential career pathways.
Claire Plumb, headteacher at South Devon UTC, said: “At South Devon UTC, we are passionate about ensuring our students experience education beyond the classroom.
“This placement with Network Rail gave our students an exceptional opportunity to see the scale, responsibility and teamwork involved in delivering major infrastructure projects.
“Experiences like this allow students to apply their technical knowledge in real settings, build professional confidence, and begin to see themselves as future engineers.
“We are incredibly proud of how our students represented the UTC and grateful to Network Rail and GWR for providing such an inspiring experience.”
Daniel Parkes, principal portfolio manager within Network Rail’s integrated infrastructure team, said: “All four students were an absolute pleasure and engaged throughout.
“We had really positive feedback from the rest of the team who supported the visits.
“At least two of the students seem set on being part of the railway industry going forward in their careers.”
