FirstGroup has actively supported the Smallpeice Trust since 2009 by providing Graduate Engineers and Engineering challenges for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) events across the UK.
In 2011 the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE) and The Lloyds Register Educational Trust (LRET) gave 2,000 students from across the country the opportunity to participate in free Rail Engineering STEM days. Those teams who won the individual STEM day challenges were given the opportunity to showcase their designs at the annual iRail event in Derby. The winning teams also received free places on the Rail Engineering residential course that was held at Nottingham University in April 2011, which provided the opportunity to experience the exciting and challenging environment of Rail Engineering.
FirstGroup is pleased to have supported these events in partnership with both the Smallpeice Trust and the Young Railway Professionals (YRP) as STEM Ambassadors.
In addition to the year 9 Rail Engineering residential course, there are courses available for year 11/12 pupils, such as the Rail Systems Engineering course in July 2011 at the University of Birmingham, providing a "hands on" learning experience and an opportunity to enhance CV's or university applications whilst discovering how railway technologies and approaches come together to create a state-of-the-art energy efficient railway.
For details of current and future courses as well as further information, please visit The Smallpeice Trust website - (Opens in a new window).