Media centre

Tuesday 21 Sep 2010

APPRENTICES BEGIN THREE YEAR TRACK TO SUCCESS

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail’s award winning advanced apprenticeship scheme has taken on 201 apprentices across Britain this month after receiving a staggering 4150 applications.  The trainees have begun a three-year programme to become skilled maintenance engineering technicians.

The apprentices will spend a year training alongside the Royal Navy at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire.  Here they will learn both the technical skills required to work on the railway as well as attending leadership courses. They will continue their training for two further years on-the-job at depots across the country, returning to HMS Sultan for additional courses and learning. The apprentices specialise in track, signalling and telecoms, electrification and plant, property works and mechanical locking.

Steve Featherstone, director of infrastructure maintenance at Network Rail said: "Britain relies on rail so it is vital to invest in our people and our future with apprenticeships. We’re training the next generation of specialists with the latest technology to deliver this success in a modern, efficient way – it’s a career that brings great value to Britain. The scheme underlines Network Rail’s commitment to deliver a bigger, better-value railway with skilled and committed people."

 

Jonathan Good, a 2^nd year, 21 year old signalling apprentice based in Clapham reveals why he chose the scheme: "I chose the scheme because I felt like I’d reached a point where I had to take some initiative and do something interesting with my life. It’s the best apprenticeship that I could find and I was ecstatic when I found out I’d be going to HMS Sultan for real. Now I feel completely new, I’m learning new things and I have really changed for the better.

"The best thing about the scheme is the training and qualifications that I will have achieved after completing the course. The things I’ve learnt so far are steering me towards a valuable career that I enjoy."
 
Lettie Todd, a 2^nd year, 20-year-old Network Rail property works apprentice based in one of Britain’s busiest stations, London’s Liverpool Street, commented on what she likes best about the scheme: "It is hard to pick just one thing, there is so much going on and to get involved with. The practical learning aspect of the course is great because it provides a hands-on experience which prepares you for the working environment of the depots.  There are also lots of different sporting activities to take part in from football to ju-jitsu. However, it’s the people you meet that really do make the apprenticeship scheme a hugely enjoyable experience.

"I always liked the mixture of academic and practical study whilst at school so decided that an apprenticeship would provide me with what I needed. I chose this scheme because the Network Rail apprenticeship is one of the best opportunities available for women to become involved in the engineering industry."