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Monday 19 Nov 2012

Former South West apprentice gains higher qualifications after investment in talent development

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail has seen 18 of its former apprentices graduate from Sheffield Hallam University with higher national certificates (HNC) in railway engineering – the first to do so following a decision to support the best and brightest by providing the opportunity to continue their learning and gain additional qualifications in their specialist field.

In total 64 Network Rail employees received honours and many attended a graduation ceremony at Sheffield Town Hall on 16 November. There were 22 people who gained their undergraduate honours in engineering (BEng) - 10 class 1 awards – and 19 who completed a foundation degree in engineering.

Ian Miller, 25, a former Signalling &Telecoms apprentice, now working in Plymouth as a works delivery team leader, said: "At times it has been a struggle to balance my studies and full time job. However, thanks to the fantastic support I have received from my colleagues in Plymouth delivery unit, I have been able to achieve the results I hoped for.

“I joined the Network Rail Apprenticeship after completing my A-Levels. I'd always wanted to go to university, however I wanted to be sure that what I choose to study would be relevant to my career path. Having found a career and job I enjoy, I look forward to returning to Sheffield in September to continue my studies to Foundation Degree Level.”

Commenting on the graduation, Network Rail’s education programmes manager, Bill Templeton, said: “Investing in our people and developing their skills and knowledge is absolutely vital if we are to become better and more efficient at running the railway.”

These employees have undertaken the two-year part-time course whilst continuing to carry out their roles within maintenance depots and elsewhere in the business. Network Rail pays for the university fees, accomodation and gives them time off to attend classes and examinations. It now offers up to 40 places a year to both those who have come through the apprentice scheme as well as those who have taken a different route.

Mr Templeton added: “As the network continues to get busier and we face the challenges to get more trains on time and increase capacity, we will need a more highly skilled workforce to achieve these. It makes absolute sense for us to develop the excellent talent we have coming through our advanced apprenticeship scheme and I am convinced that this form of pipeline development will make us a more attractive employer for other bright men and women seeking a career in engineering.”

Stuart Birchall, portfolio director for UK Collaborative Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "Studying for the HNC raises former apprentices' knowledge of engineering theory as applied to the rail industry and complements the experience they gain in the workplace.

"After completing the HNC, students are able to progress onto our foundation degree (FdEng) and can ultimately consider studying the full bachelor of engineering (BEng) here at the University. I am extremely pleased to see the first cohort of students complete the HNC and hope that they consider continuing to study."