At Tended, we’re passionate about the power of innovation to shape the future. That’s why we were thrilled to be a sponsor of the recent ‘Design a Railway Station for 2030’ competition, an exciting initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers, designers, and innovators.
Organised by our partner RSS Infrastructure with support from other key organisations such as Balfour Beatty, the Midlands Rail Alliance, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, this competition brought together over 200 children from schools across Birmingham and the Black Country to rethink what the railway stations of tomorrow could look like. By combining creativity, sustainability, and technological innovation, young people were asked to design stations that will serve future generations of rail passengers.
We were especially proud to have our very own Head of Partnerships, Dominic O’Malley, serve as one of the judges for the competition, alongside a panel of leaders from across the rail and construction industries.
On 14th January 2025, Dom and the other judges gathered to review inspiring and creative designs submitted by the students. The day was filled with enthusiasm and energy as they presented their futuristic visions for our railway industry. The stations of 2030 envisioned by the students ranged from environmentally sustainable designs to tech-driven, smart spaces that integrated with the evolving needs of communities.
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Tended was proud to be one of the event’s sponsors and we also had the privilege of presenting the Smart and Innovative Technology Award at the awards ceremony, which took place on 23rd January Walsall Football Club.
Here the children’s designs were showcased, and their hard work and dedication was celebrated in front of their peers, teachers, and industry leaders. Perry the Bull, the Mascot of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, also joined the celebrations, bringing a little fun and mischief to proceedings!
Tended’s Head of Partnerships, Dominic O’Malley said: "It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in RSS Infrastructure’s ‘Design a Railway Station for 2030’ competition and to judge as well as present an award on behalf of Tended. The designs we saw were not only creative but also a testament to the potential of the next generation of engineers and designers. It was striking how designs revealed so much about what young people thought about their experiences in and around railway stations. In particular safety and security, accessibility and information. We were delighted to give the Innovation Award to the ‘Wolf Pack’ group from Tettenhall Wood School, whose ideas captured our imagination in tackling these themes. Events like these remind us of the importance of supporting young talent and providing opportunities for them to showcase their abilities. Huge thank you and well done to Monica from RSSI for organising everything.”
Congratulations to all the participants, and a special mention to our partner RSS Infrastructure. for organising such a fantastic event. We look forward to continuing our support for the next generation of railway innovators!
