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Tuesday 22 Jan 2013

Join as a West apprentice to earn your degree, says Network Rail chief

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

There are 85 places available on the 2013 Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme in the south and south west of England, the company announced today.

Of these, by far the largest number of recruits (50) Network Rail is seeking, is along the Great Western route where millions of pounds is being invested in electrifying the railway over the next few years.

Network Rail’s Western route managing director, Patrick Hallgate, wants parents, educators and young people alike to realise the future career opportunities that an apprenticeship can bring, including a university education at work.

“There are many paths to achieve a successful career,” Patrick Hallgate said. “Whether you join straight from school or after college or work, the apprenticeship programme can be the first step to a challenging career.”

Whilst many apprentices go on to be team leaders and rise through the ranks, Network Rail also helps those who want to achieve further qualifications the chance to study part-time for a Higher National Certificate in engineering and then onto a foundation degree and a bachelors at Sheffield Hallam University.

One apprentice who has benefited from this career path is Michael Groves, 25, a senior technical officer based in Gloucester. Michael has just been promoted to become efficiencies and innovation programme manager. He had left sixth form in May 2005 after completing his A-Levels.

He said: “I then scanned the internet and newspapers on a regular basis looking for ways to get into engineering without going straight to university. The Network Rail apprenticeship scheme was advertised in a national newspaper and the opportunity was too great to miss.

“After a number of selection days and interviews over the summer, I began the scheme in September. After a year of training at HMS Sultan I was deployed into the delivery unit at Gloucester where for the next two years I learnt on the job with the track maintenance teams and in the technical office.

“In May 2008 I completed the apprenticeship scheme and was appointed as a technical officer. A year in this role then led to a promotion to senior technical officer and at the same time I was accepted onto the Foundation Degree (Railway Engineering) course at Sheffield Hallam University. I successfully completed the course with a distinction, and have now been invited back to top up this qualification to a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

“Although I am currently working as a senior technical officer, I will begin a new role as efficiencies and innovation programme manager at the start of 2013.”

Network Rail apprentices spend a year training alongside the Royal Navy at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There they learn both the technical skills required to work on the railway and develop leadership and teamwork behaviours to make them more effective in their roles. For the next two years they learn their trade, working within an experienced team, continuing to return to HMS Sultan regularly for additional courses and training.

Mr Hallgate added: “Network Rail’s success is defined by our people. We need a highly skilled workforce to meet the challenges of a busier network and focus on improving performance and increasing capacity. It makes absolute sense for us to develop the talent we have coming through our apprenticeship scheme to complement our experienced engineers. This pipeline of talent development will help us retain and attract more quality people, which will help us meet the tough challenges ahead to deliver a better value railway for Britain.”

Nationally, there are around 240 places available on Network Rail’s five engineering programmes, including track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design, and telecoms. As well as the 50 places available along the Western route, there are a further 35 places available along the Wessex route in the south of England.