Newcastle College’s Rail and Civil Engineering Academy has hosted its annual industry week, giving students the opportunity to connect directly with some of the biggest names in the rail and civil engineering sectors.
Across three days, students have met experts from employers including Network Rail, Vital UK, Story Plant, NEXUS, Octavius, and Esh Construction, who delivered live demonstrations, shared career insights and showcased the opportunities the industry has to offer.
Throughout the week, students took part in a range of hands-on workshops and demonstrations, including a live welding display from Network Rail’s specialist team on the Academy’s purpose-built outdoor track - offering a rare opportunity to see the process up close and learn about a skill that is in high demand across the North East.
A highlight of the week for our civil engineering students was a visit to the Tyne Bridge with Esh Construction, putting our students right at the heart of one of the most prominent ongoing restoration projects in the region.
Dan Hegarty, Curriculum Lead for Rail Engineering at Newcastle College, said:
“Industry week for the Rail and Civil Engineering Academy is all about switching our students on to the variety of roles and disciplines within their chosen fields of study.
“From local to national employers, it exposes the students to opportunities across rail and civil engineering and highlights how closely the two are connected.”
Clare Smith, Community Safety Manager at Network Rail, added:
“Although these students are not complete strangers to the railway, it’s brilliant to have the chance to give them a refresher on safety while introducing them to infrastructure that isn’t local to this area.
“Through VR headsets, students experienced the consequences of trespass and distractions on the railway and learned how incidents can have far-reaching impacts.
“For Network Rail, it’s invaluable to have academies like this one educating future engineers and growing the pool of skilled candidates for the industry.”
Students also found the experience inspiring and hands-on.
John McDonald, a Level 4 Railway Engineering student, said:
“Industry Week has been incredibly useful - it gives us real insight into what opportunities are out there, and the live demonstrations really bring it all to life.”
Lana Somerville, also studying Level 4 Railway Engineering, said:
“Industry Week really helps us to network with so many different companies. Meeting experienced professionals makes you think, ‘I could do that!’ The demonstrations are not just great for developing our skills - I’ve even used what I’ve learned in my assignments.”
Representatives from industry agreed that the week plays a vital role in building the future workforce.
Mick Coppack, Works Delivery Supervisor at Network Rail, commented:
“It’s important we come to these events because we want these students to progress and hopefully see some of their faces in the industry in years to come.
“Rail engineering can be a career for life, and several former Rail and Civil Engineering Academy students are now supervisors with Network Rail - they’re fantastic examples of what can be achieved here.”
Kate Marshall, Social Value Manager at Esh Construction, said:
“We’re proud to continue building on our strong relationship with Newcastle College by supporting this year’s Industry Week. It’s been fantastic to work alongside the college to give its Civil Engineering T Level students a real insight into the sector.
“From presenting our Tyne Bridge project and hosting a site tour, among other activities, we’re committed to providing meaningful experiences that inspire the next generation of construction professionals.”
Newcastle College’s Rail and Civil Engineering Academy in Felling, Gateshead, delivers realistic, industry-informed training in rail, civil and built environment engineering, with facilities including full-scale tracks, overhead lines and signalling systems. Courses are developed in collaboration with major employers such as Network Rail, Nexus and Hitachi.