Students on track to success with EMR supported scheme

Students began their placement by meeting their supervisor, A&I Delivery Manager Ben Ward-Levens, who gave a warm welcome.

After introductions, EMR staff introduced our students to the driver training simulator.

In the simulator, students were given the exciting opportunity to practice driving a virtual train, which enabled them to learn about signals and the rules of train driving in a fun and engaging way.

After a well-deserved lunch, courtesy of EMR, they took part in a station induction which included a tour of Derby Station, which offered the students a chance to observe the station from the perspective of a staff member.

There was just enough time afterwards for a short reflection on their day before they headed back on the train to Nottingham.

Students were welcomed once more to Derby Station for their second week, and students were given the opportunity to learn and test a new inclusive initiative, a pictorial aid to help passengers with SEND navigate through the station and board a train.

Our students were the perfect group to test and trial this initiative and monitor how it could make a difference to autistic passengers boarding EMR in the future, and we were proud to see them bring their own insight and lived experience to the task.

The group split into three teams. One group worked outside to conduct some maintenance tasks, the second started to test the booklet at Derby station, preparing feedback for Ben, and the final group helped with passenger assistance on platform with Ben.

The groups then rotated so everybody got a chance to try each job. In the afternoon, they all boarded the train to Matlock Bath to test the booklet at an unmanned station. Afterwards, they had lunch on the train and arrived back at Derby ready to catch their train back to Nottingham.

Week 3 brought its own confidence-building exercises, as students boarded the train in first class at Nottingham and travelled all the way to St Pancras.

The opportunity was given to do some trolley hosting in first class, and we're so pleased to share that the student who performed these duties did a very professional job!

After arriving in London, our students were guided on a whistle-stop tour of St Pancras and King's Cross to take a look at two very different stations. Then it was back onto the train, first class back to Nottingham.

All of our students did an incredible job and we can't wait to see how they progress as they continue to develop the skills they've learned and reflect on the experiences they've had.