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Wednesday 11 Jun 2014

Network Rail apprentices victorious in battle with the armed forces

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National

Who’s tougher - the RAF, the Royal Navy or Network Rail’s apprentices? In fact, it’s the latter. So proved our apprentices in the annual Junior Leaders Field Gun Competition, held at HMS Collingwood in Gosport, Hampshire on 6 June.

In the ultimate show of strength, endurance, speed, accuracy and teamwork, Network Rail apprentices fended off the strength of the military services claiming victory in the final taking both first and second places. A third Network Rail team also triumphed in the “plate” contest – fought between those crews that make an earlier exit from the competition.

The Junior Leaders Field Gun traditionally marks the end of Network Rail’s Year 1 Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme graduation ceremony. Organised by the Royal Navy, the competition is open to crews formed of trainees or apprentices aged 16-25. Each crew of 18 is required to run, dismantle, reassemble and fire the antique 12-pounder field gun – equivalent in weight to a small car – in the shortest possible time. Network Rail’s winning team triumphed over 11 other crews drawn from the military services and other organisations including BAE Systems and Chichester College.

Michelle Nolan-McSweeney, apprentice development manager for Network Rail said: “The hard work of the apprentices saw them justly rewarded taking three trophies on the day. They have done us proud. The teamwork and dedication that they showed in the competition and during their training should serve them well as they go on in their careers. Excellent teamwork, attention to detail and good communication are a vital part of maintaining the railway, and the Network Rail crews in this competition demonstrated these qualities in abundance.”

Information on Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme can be found here.