Scunthorpe showcased - local MP becomes Rail Fellow for promoting our rail sector 

26 October 2018

Today, Martin Vickers MP had a hands on day at two rail sites in Scunthorpe as part of the Railway Industry Association (RIA) Rail Fellowship Programme.  

Martin Vickers meets with the AD Comms team

Mr Vickers, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Rail Group and MP for Cleethorpes, spent the day seeing the work that goes on at the British Steel site in Scunthorpe, including the process route for manufacturing the steel rails used on UK rail tracks. He met workers and apprentices who will form tomorrow’s local workforce, both at British Steel, and at local telecommunications specialists AD Comms, a Panasonic company, who showed Mr Vickers their ongoing work on the digital innovations, trackside and on train, that are revolutionising our railways.
 
This is all part of an exciting campaign - the RIA Rail Fellowship Programme - which is showcasing the work of the UK rail supply chain by allowing Parliamentarians and influencers to gain hands-on experience in the industry. A number of MPs have now taken part in the RIA Rail Fellowship Programme, as decision makers line up to pledge their support for the UK rail industry.
 
Martin Vickers MP said: "It was fascinating to see with my own eyes the great work that gets done on-the-ground in our rail industry, and to witness products being manufactured from the very beginning of the process. I think it is important for MPs to take part in visits like this and the RIA Rail Fellowship Programme is a great way to get involved. I would like to thank everyone involved with planning this day, and to British Steel and AD Comms for having me."
 
Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association said: “We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Martin Vickers MP for becoming the latest member of the RIA Rail Fellowship, Class of 2018. We are proud to see MPs from up and down the country taking part in the Programme, so they can see for themselves the role of the UK rail sector in providing skills, investment and jobs.”
 
Richard Bell, Commercial Director Rail from British Steel said: “We’re proud to regularly host visits from across the rail industry to give stakeholders, from government ministers to apprentices, an appreciation of the size and scale of the technology required to provide the fundamental building blocks and a secure supply chain for UK rail.”  
 
Mike Hewitt, Chief Technical Officer at AD Comms said: “The fellowship programme is a fantastic initiative from RIA and is raising awareness of the challenges, and opportunities the UK Rail supply chain facing and is responding to is most welcome. Hosting Martin Vickers has provided him with  the opportunity to see how technology is delivering the innovation and transformation required for a world class 21st Century Digital Railway.”
 
The RIA Rail Fellowship Programme is being run by the Railway Industry Association (RIA), the representative body for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. RIA has more than 200 member companies and works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe, and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.
 
The rail sector is of crucial importance to the UK economy, contributing £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people—more than the workforce of Birmingham. It is also a growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too.  

Notes to Editors 
  1. For all media enquiries please contact: [email protected] or telephone: 020 3826 7727.
  2. The RIA Rail Fellowship Programme: The RIA Rail Fellowship Programme is an exciting opportunity for UK parliamentarians and commentators to gain an insight into the valuable work of the UK rail supply chain at a RIA Member location. “Fellows” spend a day ‘on location’ with a RIA Member whose work is relevant to their role or constituency and experience opportunities reflecting the great diversity of technical disciplines within the rail sector. Candidates are gaining an invaluable understanding of a diverse workforce that together contribute £36 billion in economic growth and £11 billion in tax revenue each year, as well as employing 600,000 people. The RIA Rail Fellowship Class of 2018 will be awarded at the annual RIA Parliamentary reception on Tuesday 27th November 2018. Find out more here.
  3. About the Railway Industry Association (RIA): The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is the trade association for UK-based suppliers to the UK and world-wide railways. It has some 200 companies in membership, in a growing industry with the number of rail journeys expected to double over the next 25 years and freight set to grow significantly too. RIA’s membership is active across the whole of railway supply, covering a diverse range of products and services and including both multi-national companies and SMEs (60% by number). RIA works to promote the importance of the rail system to UK plc, to help export UK expertise around the globe and to share best practice and innovation across the industry.
  4. About British Steel: British Steel was formed in June 2016 by Greybull Capital. While we’re proud of our heritage, we’re just as passionate about building stronger futures for our employees, customers, suppliers and local communities. Internationally, we want to be a competitive exporter and the right strategic business partner. Nationally we want to be the champion in our chosen markets – recognised as the centre of competence for steelmaking and the partner of choice. And locally, through positive engagement, we want to become a leader of business and community re-development in the areas in which we operate. Our steel helps people travel, work, eat and socialise every day. It has been, and continues to be, fundamental in creating iconic, awe-inspiring structures around the world. More importantly, it helps keep us safe. We produce more than 2.8 million tonnes of steel every year. From this, we manufacture more than 1,450 different specifications of steel that is rolled into wire rod, sections, special profiles, rail, bloom and slab.We employ 5,000 people, 400 of whom are in France. Our facilities include:
  • Scunthorpe integrated steelworks
  • Teesside Beam Mill, Lackenby
  • Special Profiles, Skinningrove
  • Hayange Rail Mill, north east France
  • Immingham Bulk Terminal (port terminal)
  • Redcar Bulk Terminal (port terminal)
  • FN Steel, Netherlands
  • Engineering business, Workington
  • National design consultancy
  • Associated distribution facilities in the UK and Ireland
  • International sales offices including USA, Singapore, France, Spain and Germany

5. About AD Comms: ADComms, a Panasonic Business, deliver innovative technology solutions and services to owners and operators of mission critical infrastructure. With decades of experience in the telecommunications and networks markets ADComms are able to work with its clients to develop intelligent connected solutions that solve real business challenges.  We innovate, design and build telecoms, network, energy and train borne technology solutions as well as providing a dedicated customer services and maintenance organisation to support our solutions while in operation.