Media centre

Thursday 6 Apr 2017

Network Rail is on the hunt for new apprentices in Essex

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Network Rail is looking for six new apprentices for its award-winning engineering apprenticeship scheme to start in September this year.

The company is currently working on its ambitious Railway Upgrade Plan and is changing the way it works with more local decision making, providing plenty of opportunities for budding engineers to get stuck into a wide range of projects that will transform the way people travel around the region.

The scheme is open to applications until Friday 12 May, offering a fantastic opportunity for young people and those looking for a career change to earn whilst learning, gain valuable qualifications and skills and build a career in engineering.

Apprentices are guaranteed a job upon completion of the three-year course and more than four in five (83%) of those who started on the scheme a decade ago are still working for the organisation today.

Apprentices complete the first 20 weeks of the scheme living and learning at Network Rail’s Westwood training centre in the West Midlands, partaking in a mix of academic work and hands-on practical experience. At Westwood, apprentices benefit from bespoke engineering training equipment to further their development.

Apprentices then join the team at a local distribution unit to learn and gain experience from experts in their field, as well as completing various technical and leadership training modules at Network Rail engineering training centres around the country to prepare for a career at the top of their profession.

Richard Schofield, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “This is a great opportunity for young people to gain valuable paid work experience, transferable skills and recognised qualifications in one of Britain’s most exciting industries. We are carrying out huge improvements in this region as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, so there are plenty of projects for budding engineers to get stuck in to. I look forward to welcoming our new apprentices to the railway in September.”

The scheme also has a far higher retention rate than the national average for engineering. 75% of those that complete the scheme choose to go into employment with Network Rail, compared to the national average for engineering of 55%.

To find out more and apply for Network Rail’s advance apprenticeship scheme, visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/apprenticeships/