A study programme at Landau resulted in Daniel Noon securing his dream job, which he is still enjoying immensely nine years later. We are delighted to be able to share Daniel’s story below.

In 2013, at the age of 20, getting employment on the railways was Daniel’s dream job. Daniel, who has learning disabilities, was lucky to get a job at Network Rail in 2013 thanks to a scheme designed to help people not in education, employment or training at Landau. He was placed on a study programme to help him gain numeracy and literacy skills and with support from Landau Daniel surpassed himself by getting a job just weeks after starting a one-day work placement at Birmingham’s New Street station. His enthusiasm for transport, trains and his knowledge of routes impressed bosses at the station so much they offered him the chance to work in the control centre after a stint on the platform advising travellers on timetables and carrying luggage.

Carole Morton, from Landau, said Daniel had been attending the programme to boost his numeracy and literacy skills since October 2012: “Public transport and especially trains are a real passion of Daniel’s so we speculatively called Network Rail to see if they could help us find a work experience placement for him. They were just great and said yes straight away.”

Daniel said: “I am in my dream job working at Birmingham New Street and learning about the rail network. I do have learning disabilities but they don’t stop me from doing the best I can at my job.”

Andy Knowles, New Street Station Operations Manager, added: “Daniel is a breath of fresh air and we are all happy to have him on the team. It should have just been a work placement but Daniel quickly proved a real asset and we have taken him on. He started out on the platform helping passengers with timetables and routes but his knowledge is so good we’ve brought him into the control centre to assist our team who manage the train times and routes.” Daniel was awarded “Employee of the Month” in August 2016 and received a prize for his continued hard work, customer service skills and knowledge in his field.

More than 6 years later Daniel is a permanent employee with Network Rail, working 28 hours per week – “I love my transport, I am often asked ‘why don’t you bring your bed and stay overnight?!!’”.

Like all employees at Network Rail, staff receive comprehensive training in all disciplines from the Control Room to Customer Services to learn the complexities of the rail operation. This has included experience at Manchester Piccadilly station to help and assist with crowd control & being part of New Street stations disability access forum to help passengers with disabilities around the station. Daniel currently loves being involved in Customer Services. Birmingham New Street manages between 1,200-1,300 train moves per day and 170,000 passengers, Daniel’s knowledge of the interface between the Control Room & train operation means that he can improve communication between the control room & passengers to deliver exceptional customer service to Network Rail customers & guide them with tram and bus time-tables if needed.

Daniel has progressed enormously as a person in the last 6 years, his confidence has grown beyond recognition & he is “one of the gang” at Network Rail, Birmingham New Street.