How 100 young people reimagined what it means to work in rail – without needing to love trains.

In partnership with:

We asked 100 SuperSquad Sherpees this question:

How might we make Northern Rail a destination career for all non-rail enthusiasts?

Introducing the Northern Rail SuperSquad

But…what is a SuperSquad?

A practical, paid work experience programme where teens engage with real business and societal challenges.

Through the Northern Rail SuperSquad, this innovative and diverse team of young people set out to answer a bold question: How might we make Northern Rail a destination career for non-rail enthusiasts?

Over six weeks, they explored real roles, interviewed rail professionals, and tackled everything from public perceptions to career misconceptions.

They didn’t just come up with ideas—they reimagined how a whole generation could see themselves in the sector.

Their ideas tapped directly into what matters most to young people today: variety, purpose, flexibility, and hands-on experience.

3.91
Social return on investment
720
Student Hours Completed
£12,750
Paid to the Teen Economy

Highlighted idea from the SuperSquad

A pop-up, inflatable train stand that takes Northern Rail into schools, festivals, and town centres.

The result:

Reimagined rail careers—and proof that the next generation won’t choose what they can’t see.

Concepts like the Work-Life Balance Showcase, School Train Visits, and the Inflatable Train Stand brought rail careers to life in fun, immersive ways that shifted perceptions and sparked genuine curiosity.

The Squad didn’t just generate ideas—they offered a blueprint for how the rail industry can connect with future talent through relatable experiences and content that reflects their world.

By the end of the programme, interest in Northern as a future employer more than doubled—from 14% at the start to 36%. With 76% of Squad members stating they believe you don’t need to go to university to get a good job, and evident enthusiasm for roles like Rail Engineering Apprentice, it’s clear that rail has the potential to become a destination career.

These young people showed how, when given the opportunity, they can shape practical, future-focused solutions that align with their aspirations—and redefine what a modern rail career can look like, opening new pathways into industries that need them tomorrow.

From immersive job tasters to Gen Z-led branding, 100 young people delivered bold, practical ideas to make Northern Rail a career you’d choose—even if you’ve never loved trains.

With students selected from

Aspire Academy – Blackpool
Biddick Academy – Washington
Blackpool Aspire Academy – Blackpool
Calderdale College – Halifax
Conyers Sixth Form – Yarm
Cramlington Learning Village – Cramlington
Farringdon Community Academy – Sunderland
Fulham Cross Girls' School – London
Garforth Academy – Garforth (Leeds)
Montpelier Primary School – Ealing (London)
Oxclose Community Academy – Washington
Hymers College – Hull
King Edward VI School – Morpeth
Leeds City College – Leeds
Longley Park Sixth Form – Sheffield
Marden High School – North Shields
Newminster Middle School – Morpeth
Nunthorpe Academy – Middlesbrough
Oxclose Community Academy – Washington (duplicate removed)
Pudsey Grammar School – Pudsey (Leeds)

Testimonials

Hear what our clients and some of the students have to say about working with us…

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Check our our social value pack

Contains a detailed overview of the programmes and a bid support appendix