'Excellent collaboration'

Joining the group on the trip were Professor Michelle Callanan and International Live Project Management module leader Helen Joyner-Harris, who congratulated the students on their achievements.

"The student cohort excelled themselves as budding project managers within their diverse proposals," she said. "What an excellent opportunity both for Vintage Trains to attract master's students' insights and for our students to gain practical industry experience beyond the confines of academic convention while still studying.

"This excellent collaboration has resulted in tangible benefits for Vintage Trains, our client, the student cohort and University College Birmingham."

Vintage Trains chairman Michael Whitehouse said: "It's been a fantastic experience to work with Michelle, Helen and all the students – my board has been really impressed with many of the ideas and suggestions we have received for improving our ongoing customer experience.

"We are passionate about preserving railway heritage but we are equally keen to move with the times by providing a high level of service to all our customers."

As an added bonus, five of the group were also awarded free student membership of the Institute of Directors (IoD) for their proposal contributions, sponsored by former IoD director-general Dr John Phillips.

University College Birmingham is committed to providing students on our courses with real-world experience and invaluable engagement with the industries in which they aspire to work following their studies.

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