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Friday 12 Jul 2013

Apprentices take to the tracks for real

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National

More than 180 apprentices have joined up with railway maintenance teams across Britain for on-the-job training after successfully completing the first year of Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme.

One apprentice who will be experiencing the new environment is 21 year old Lewis Ashton, who is specialising in track and has recently joined the team based in York.

Commenting on his experience as a Network Rail apprentice Lewis said: “I heard about the scheme on Facebook and I joined because I wanted job security and to learn a real trade. The whole package was really attractive; pension etc and the qualifications are transferable so it seemed a secure career to get into. There’s a good balance between younger and older apprentices and its good that we’re all in it together. I’m itching to get out on the track and start really working - I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

 
The first year of the award-winning three-year scheme is spent at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There apprentices specialise in track, signalling, telecoms and electrification and plant. During their second and third years they experience work on the rail network’s front line, gaining vital experience as they train to become maintenance technicians. Throughout this time they regularly return to HMS Sultan for further courses and training to add to the experience gained on the rail network. Since 2005, Network Rail has trained 1050 apprentices through the three year scheme with a further 600 currently still in training.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s managing director, network operations, said: “With the huge challenges we face maintaining an increasingly busy network we need a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, so I’m very pleased to welcome Lewis and all our new apprentices onto the railway for the first time.

“Our experienced engineers will further the apprentices’ on-the-job training, teaching them all they need to know to become invaluable members of the Network Rail team. They can be proud to be part of a company which helps move four million people and millions of tonnes of freight every day.”