14.08.14
Network Rail promoting technology careers for young women
Six secondary school students have been given a tour of Manchester Victoria station’s £44m redevelopment, as part of their prize for winning Network Rail’s Could IT Be You? competition.
Launched in October 2013, the competition was aimed at encouraging more young women into technology careers with the winners receiving two weeks paid work experience.
During the two weeks, the girls, from all across the country, have shadowed Network Rail's IT managers, attended meetings and have seen how technology helps run Britain's railway, which carries more than 4m people and hundreds of tonnes of freight a day.
They also visited signalling centres, stations and the National Records Centre, which holds over five million historical records including original architectural drawings by Brunel.
Zoe Moore, aged 17 from Towcester in Northants, was the overall winner of the 2013 competition and will have her first year’s university fees paid for by Network Rail.
She said: “One of the most unusual things we got to see was all the historical railway records at the National Records Centre in York, the oldest of which was from 1509.
“One particularly special document contains Florence Nightingale's signature from a land deed. Where else do you get to see that?”
Could IT Be You? 2014 will be launched in September, with the same top prize of the first year of university fees paid for by Network Rail. The winner and runners up will also receive paid work experience as a prize.
Susan Cooklin, Network Rail’s chief information officer, who has been heavily involved with the event, said: “Popular culture has helped create a perception amongst young women that a career in IT is all about writing code in basement offices – the reality couldn't be further from the truth.
“All these girls have shown a creative mind for solving problems and good communication, and these are the skills that business leaders are after. Everyone in my team is thrilled to be able to showcase how much technology there is on the railway and hopefully inspire them to become technology gurus of the future.”
A new website will accompany the launch of the 2014 Could IT be you? competition. But those interested can keep up to date on what's happening by following the team @couldITbu14
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