East West Railway Company (EWR Co) has teamed up with Milton Keynes College to launch a 3-year programme offering exciting new work placements to support its students and help them gain valuable industry experience in engineering, planning, surveying and construction.
Students at Milton Keynes College will be offered the opportunity to complete a T-Level industry placement to equip them with skills, knowledge and experience to help them progress into skilled employment. Starting in summer 2022, the T-levels will offer 16-18 year-olds – particularly those who might not consider staying on in education – the chance to gain hands-on industry experience at the same time as a nationally recognised qualification, all whilst being paid.
Today’s announcement marks the start of a long-term commitment by EWR Co to provide high-quality paid work opportunities that can lead to job interviews for young people locally. The programme, which will run for at least three years, is part of EWR Co’s social value strategy which aims to leave a lasting legacy that increases prosperity and improves wellbeing for local communities between Oxford and Cambridge.
The strategy includes a focus on local employment and the first two colleges to be part of the programme are Milton Keynes College and Central Bedfordshire College. Schools and colleges in other locations along the East West Rail route between Oxford and Cambridge will also join the programme as it expands.
Simon Scott, Engineering Director at EWR Co, said: “Improving the prosperity and wellbeing of people living between Oxford and Cambridge is at the heart of what East West Rail stands for. That’s why we are passionate about enabling young people to gain valuable, hands-on experience that will equip them with vital skills and inspire them to explore high-quality careers and work opportunities locally.
“The Milton Keynes area is home to thousands of talented young people who, given the right opportunities, could become the next Brunel. It’s our mission to discover these engineers of the future and support them to fulfil their potential. These placements are the first step in our wider ambitions to improve people’s lives across the communities we serve.”
The industry work placements announced today have been launched alongside Ardent – EWR Co’s Land & Property Partner – who specialise in social value programmes that leave lasting legacies for local communities.
Kate Ramscar, HR Manager at Ardent commented: “At Ardent we are committed to developing an ‘educational supply chain of talent’ that can provide fantastic opportunities to young people to work on career-defining projects, bringing talent and untapped potential into our crucial industry. We are very excited to be working with Milton Keynes College and look forward to welcoming our new placement students into the Ardent family in the near future.”
T-Levels were launched by the UK Government in 2020 and result in a high-level qualification equivalent to three A levels. A T-level qualification involves more practical time on the job with 20% of students time spent gaining practical experience with an employer as part of their industry placement.
Linda Butt, Senior Work Placement Co-ordinator at Milton Keynes College, said: “Working with Ardent is an amazing opportunity for our T-Level students to really engage with industry experts in exciting projects like East West Rail. The industry placements will provide our students hands-on experience of working in the industry whilst continuing with their T-Level qualification with us here at MK College. We very much look forward to a long and successful relationship between Milton Keynes College and Ardent Management and appreciate the opportunity.”
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Notes to editors
About the East West Rail project
East West Rail intends to create a new direct connection between Oxford and Cambridge. Serving communities across the area, it intends to bring faster journey times and lower transport costs as well as ease pressure on local roads.
East West Rail is planned to be delivered in three Connection Stages:
- Connection Stage One: Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes
- Connection Stage Two: Oxford to Bedford
- Connection Stage Three: Oxford to Cambridge
Network Rail was responsible for developing the first part of the East West Rail, connecting Oxford with Bicester, and is a partner in a construction alliance to deliver Connection Stage 1 of the project, where East West Railway Company (EWR Co) and Network Rail are acting as the Department for Transport’s joint sponsors.
EWR Co is now developing the route to enable services to run to Cambridge via Bedford and plans to seek statutory powers under the Planning Act 2008, following a period of extensive consultation.
About East West Railway Company
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was set up by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2018 to develop East West Rail, a railway with customers and communities at its core.
We have a mission to innovate and challenge the status-quo in the rail and construction industries, leading to a more efficient and cost-effective project delivery, and a great experience for passengers and the communities we serve. Our vision is delivery of a safe and secure railway that is better for the customer; cheaper for the taxpayer; delivered quicker than before and is greener for the environment.
Our distinctive outlook and commitment to doing the right thing for our customers and local communities runs through everything we do and every decision we make.
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