<p>Porterbrook has confirmed that it will sponsor the 2019 iRail Grand Challenge, the competition designed to encourage young people to consider a future in rail.</p>
<p>Organised by the Rail Forum Midlands, iRail sees Year 9 students in schools from across both East and West Midlands participate in a number of half day, fun, engineering challenges. The winners of the regional heats are then invited to participate in the iRail Grand Challenge; which in 2018 saw four schools submit bids to run a fictitious rail franchise, in response to an invitation to tender designed by Porterbrook graduates. </p>
<p>The teams participating in the iRail Grand Challenge are judged by a panel drawn from both public and private sectors; with engineering and operating expertise. The judges for 2019 will be Porterbook CEO, Mary Grant; Neil Bamford, Engineering Director, West Midlands Trains; Mike Noakes, Head of Rail, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; and Neil Robertson, CEO, National Skills Academy for Rail. </p>
<p>Mary Grant, CEO Porterbrook, said: “We are delighted to support iRail in 2019 as part of our commitment to developing the next generation of rail industry professionals. I am also very pleased that Mike Noakes, Neil Bamford and Neil Robertson have agreed to serve with me on this year’s judging panel. Their encouragement and support for the young people of today will help us and industry deliver the leaders we need for the railway of tomorrow.”</p>
<p>Last year’s finalists were Loughborough High School, Derby Manufacturing UTC, Aston University Engineering Academy and Holte School, Birmingham with Aston University Engineering Academy taking home the trophy. </p>
<p>The 2018 winners of the iRail Grand Challenge, Aston University Engineering Academy, were invited to the House of Commons to be presented with an award and £1,000 prize money (to spend on teaching equipment) by Lilian Greenwood MP, Chair of the Transport Select Committee.</p>
<p>- ENDS -</p><p><br></p>
<p><strong>NOTES TO EDITORS</strong></p>
<p><strong>Media Contacts</strong></p><strong>
</strong><p><strong>Porterbrook Leasing</strong></p>
<p>Rupert Brennan Brown, Head of Communications and Engagement</p><a href="mailto:Rupert@porterbrook.co.uk">
</a><p><a href="mailto:Rupert@porterbrook.co.uk">Rupert@porterbrook.co.uk</a> or +44 (0)7973 950 923</p><p><strong>Financial or corporate PR enquiries can also be directed to:</strong></p><strong>
</strong><p><strong>Maitland </strong> </p>
<p>James Isola, Partner</p><a href="mailto:jisola@maitland.co.uk">
</a><p><a href="mailto:jisola@maitland.co.uk">jisola@maitland.co.uk</a></p>
<p>James McFarlane, Partner</p><a href="mailto:jmcfarlane@maitland.co.uk">
</a><p><a href="mailto:jmcfarlane@maitland.co.uk">jmcfarlane@maitland.co.uk</a> or +44 (0)20 7379 5151</p>
<p><strong>About Porterbrook</strong></p>
<ul><li>Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook") is a leading participant in the rail leasing market and has a rolling stock fleet of around 5,000 vehicles on lease or on order, which includes c.4,500 passenger vehicles.</li><li>Since privatisation, Porterbrook has invested over £3bn in the UK rail market. The company is looking to invest a further £1bn in Britain’s railway over the next five years.</li><li>Porterbrook has successfully introduced over 2,500 new vehicles into passenger service. The company continues to invest across its existing fleets to ensure they remain attractive to operators and passengers. Porterbrook also provides ongoing train maintenance services.</li><li>In October 2014, the Porterbrook Group of companies was acquired by a consortium of investors including Alberta Investment Management Corporation (“AIMCo”), Allianz Capital Partners (“ACP”) on behalf of certain insurance companies of the Allianz Group, EDF Invest and a consortium of Utilities Trust of Australia (“UTA”), The Infrastructure Fund (“TIF”) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Pension Fund (“RBS”).</li></ul>