Media centre

Tuesday 17 Aug 2004

ENGINEER YOUR WAY TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

-7000 GOOD REASONS TO CHOOSE A CAREER WITH BRITAIN’S RAIL INDUSTRY- School-leavers in Scotland are being offered a direct route into a career in railway engineering, a professional qualification and an income of over £7000 each year, during study. A foundation degree course has been developed by Network Rail and its industry partners to bring into the industry high calibre staff who can develop the skills required for rebuilding Britain’s railway.  Nigel Ward, Education Engineer, Network Rail, commented, “Over the next five years £26bn will be invested in the rail network – that’s £14m every day – which will be spent rebuilding Britain’s railway. We need the most talented, high calibre people to join us for a career in engineering. This course is the ideal opportunity to join the rail industry and get paid to study. Contact us now if you are enthusiastic, ambitious and looking for an exciting and rewarding career on the railway”  The two-year programme is ideally suited to people who have completed their Highers and Advanced Highers, and it combines academic studies and practical work experience. There is also the option of topping up the foundation course with another year’s study, which will earn a B.Eng honours degree.  Network Rail along with other rail companies is sponsoring students on the very first full time course, which starts at Sheffield Hallam University in September 2004. Students will spend seven months of both years at university, and in the remaining five months of both years they will focus on gaining relevant, paid work experience. John Joynson, Trainee Rail Engineer in Scotland, said, “There are few employment opportunities that offer the chance to be part of something so high profile and so important for the development and prosperity of the nation. I joined the rail industry to become involved in making engineering decisions on the ground, to provide a more reliable and safe railway. It’s very fast paced and exciting and no two days are the same.”