47,000 young people to benefit from Big Bang at School Blueprint

ENGINEERINGUK is partnering with The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) to expand the reach of its Big Bang at School Blueprint programme, where Secondary Schools can host their own exciting science and engineering days.

With a skills and labour shortage in the engineering and technology sector, and EngineeringUK and Royal Society research showing some girls are switching off from science, the partnership with RAFCT aims to support up to 47,000 young people to enjoy their own Big Bang at School day with amazing science and engineering activities, workshops and projects and spark a passion and curiosity for all things STEM.

The funding will enable Big Bang, at:- School Blueprint, which aims to bring the same fun, excitement and interactive learning experience as The Big Bang Fair, held each year, at the NEC, to the classroom to benefit young people aged:- 11 to 14 year olds, and bring to life science, engineering and technology careers through shows, workshops and activities.

RAFCT aims to inspire young people to consider careers in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and is powered by the proceeds of the Royal International Air Tattoo.Dr Kevin P Stenson, Director of RAFCT said:- "The RAF Charitable Trust, powered by RIAT, is delighted to support EngineeringUK's Big Bang School at School Blueprint programme. This new partnership, part of our aim to be able to support an annual National STEM programmes for 500,000 young people aged:- 5 to 25 years, represents a huge leap forward for us by enabling nearly 50,000 11 to 14-year-olds to be inspired to fulfil their potential in air, space and technology. This secondary School programme builds upon existing programmes we enable with primary Schools."

Bursaries for the Big Bang at School Blueprint are available for priority Schools to help teachers host their own STEM project and workshops.

EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Dr Hilary Leevers said:- "It's fantastic to be partnering with the RAF Charitable Trust to help spread the reach of the Big Bang at School Blueprint. More young people from all backgrounds across the UK need to know about the exciting and impactful jobs to be had in science, technology and engineering. We greatly appreciate the support of the RAF Charitable Trust to help us make that happen through the Big Bang at School Blueprint, and we'll make sure children have some fun along the way!."
 

Great Britain's most and least reliable train companies revealed

• c2c ranks top as Great Britain's most reliable train company, scoring an impressive:- 99.5 out of 100. Serving commuters in East London and South Essex, the operator has the fewest minutes delayed per 1,000 kilometres (11.71), as well as the lowest percentage of trains fully cancelled (0.86%). Despite this, 3 other operators see trains arrive on time more often; the Elizabeth line, Greater Anglia, and Heathrow Express. However, c2c cemented its position at the top with a greater percentage of trains arriving within:- 3 and 15 minutes (94.43% and 99.65%).
  
  

• Merseyrail ranks 2nd in the study with a score of 95.13. The Northwest services are some of the most punctual nationally, ranking top for trains arriving within:- 3 minutes (94.43%) and 15 minutes (99.84%). The operator also has the 2nd, fewest delay minutes per 1,000km with 13.84.
  
  

• The Elizabeth line places 3rd in the reliability study. Services on the Elizabeth line are on time more frequently than any other at:- 83.67%, while those arriving within 3 minutes (93.59%) and 15 minutes (99.49%) also rank high. The operator falls just short of the top 2 spots due to a slightly higher percentage of trains fully cancelled (2.04%) and delay minutes per 1,000km (17.34). The Elizabeth line is operated by MTR under a concession from TfL and is separate from other London Underground or Overground services.
  
  

• Passengers on Greater Anglia trains have access to the 4th most reliable service. While not rating top in any of the 5 metrics, the company is consistently among the top 7 operators in each category. Approximately 81.88% of trains are on time, 92.77% arrive within 3 minutes, and 99.29% arrive within 15 minutes. For every 1,000km travelled, 17.62 minutes of delay are recorded on Greater Anglia services.
  
  

• Chiltern Railways rounds out Great Britain's 5 most reliable train operators, with a score of:- 89.33 out of 100. Covering areas of Greater London, South East England, and the West Midlands, services are fully cancelled 1.31% of the time, the 4th lowest in the study. Over the last 5 financial years, 74.29% of trains have arrived on time, followed by 89.14% within 3 minutes and 98.93% within 15 minutes.
  
  

• Heathrow Express claims 6th spot in the ranking, scoring 88.28. Only the Elizabeth line has a higher percentage of services on time, at 83.67% compared to 82.29% for Heathrow Express. The operator ranked lower than 5 others due to a higher percentage of trains cancelled (3.13%) and more delay minutes per 1,000km (24.3).
   

• ScotRail scores 87.84 out of 100 for reliability, claiming 7th place. The Scottish operator ranked among the top:- 9 in all 5 categories. Approximately 99.48% of services arrive within 15 minutes, the 4th highest figure in the study. Meanwhile, 71.02% of trains are on time, and minutes delayed per 1,000km travelled sit at 19.29.
   

• London Overground, Southeastern, and London North Eastern Railway top off the 10 most reliable operators with scores of:- 87.53, 83.91, and 83.51, respectively.
   

• Avanti West Coast brings up the bottom of the table as Great Britain's least reliable train company. Just 47.77% of services are on time and 67.36% arrive within 3 minutes, both nationwide lows, while the percentage of trains fully cancelled is the highest of the companies studied (3.76%).
   

• Similarly, Hull Trains has the lowest percentage of trains arriving within 15 minutes at:- 90.07%, and Northern Trains averages more delay minutes per 1,000km than any other with 36.53.