Media centre

Thursday 7 Mar 2019

Get your career on track with the Network Rail apprenticeship scheme

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

This National Apprenticeship Week (4-8 March), Network Rail Wales and Borders is calling for people to join its award-winning apprenticeship scheme, as it embarks on its £2bn five-year funding plan to improve journeys for passengers.  

Bill Kelly, route managing director for Network Rail in Wales and Borders said: “The 1,600 people working for Wales and Borders are our greatest asset and central to providing a safe and reliable railway for our passengers every day.

“It’s a really exciting time to join the rail industry in Wales and Borders. Together with Transport for Wales we are at the start of a journey to transform the railway for the thousands of passengers who use our network every day.

“I urge anyone that has the determination, talent and enthusiasm to work in a role where you not only make a difference every single day but also contribute to building the railway for the future, to join us by applying for the apprenticeship scheme today.”

Ben Gough, an apprentice for Network Rail Wales and Borders, based in Hereford, said: “I applied for the scheme because I believed it would be a fantastic opportunity to be involved with something that is quite different, very interesting and an important part of British engineering. Also, after reading about the apprentice scheme itself I quickly realised how many opportunities the three-year scheme had to offer.  

“The scheme itself has given me plenty of opportunities career wise. Not only am I currently being trained up to a technician standard, but I am acquiring many other qualifications such as an NVQ level 3, all of which will aid me in my career in the future.”

Marie Daly, director of HR at Transport for Wales Rail Services, said: “Railway apprenticeships are amongst the most exciting and diverse in Britain and there has never been a better time to get on board.

“Transport for Wales are putting apprenticeships at the forefront of our business as we build a better railway for future generations.

“We will be recruiting our first apprentices this year in roles from front line and operational to IT and planning, so if you think you have what it takes then I would strongly urge you to apply.”

Following initial training at a dedicated centre, Network Rail apprentices will be stationed at one of the Wales and Borders depots, learning the ropes in disciplines including electrification, signalling, telecoms and track. Once complete, with three-years of on-the-job training under their belt, apprentices are guaranteed a job at Network Rail.

The scheme is open to anyone who will be aged 18 on 1 September 2019, with no upper age limit. Visit networkrail.co.uk/careers/apprenticeships/  to apply or for more information.