Network Rail’s Diverse IT competition intends to encourage young people from minority ethnic backgrounds to consider IT and STEM-based careers within the rail industry.

Currently, positions in IT and STEM within the wider rail industry are under-represented by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic employees with Network Rail seeing just under 10% (9.38%) of employees represented within this field.

Network Rail is working to increase these figures to 13% by the end of 2024 via their Race Matters initiative, which intends to build a more inclusive and diverse workforce and with a special focus on leadership positions.

The competition is aimed at 16 to 18-year-olds using creative and technical skills to design something new or innovative. Questions will be asked about how their idea could be used, such as what its purpose is, who would use it, how could it be made safe and secure and how technology could bring the design to lift.

Prizes for the competition include IT equipment such as new Windows 10 laptops, work experience days and mentoring from IT professionals.

The overall winner will be encouraged to apply with a recommendation for Network Rail’s IT Apprenticeship scheme. However, no places can be guaranteed for the scheme, but the winner will receive support via a mentor for the full application process.

Maureen Parris, Network Rail’s enterprise architect, said:

“We know that people from minority ethnic backgrounds are under-represented in our business, and in STEM fields such as IT. We hope this competition will encourage more young people from those backgrounds to consider IT in the railway as an exciting and worthwhile career.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the submissions, and I’m sure we’ll get lots of creative and innovative ideas.”

To take part in the competition entrants have to be 16 to 18 years of age and working in partnership with their school or college.

Entries have to be in by the 31st of December 2021

To find out the full terms and conditions, please visit:

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/early-careers/diverse-it-have-you-got-the-it-factor/

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