Tuesday 22 Jan 2013
Network Rail launches its 2013 apprenticeship scheme in Sussex and Surrey
- Region & Route:
- | Southern: Wessex
- | Southern
Young people across Sussex and Surrey are being urged to consider becoming an apprentice with Network Rail as the company launches its 2013 advanced apprenticeship scheme.
A total of 10 places are available on the scheme in Sussex and Surrey which provides young people with an opportunity to in an industry which transports millions of passengers around the counties every year and boosts the region’s economy.
Many apprentices go on to rise through the ranks at Network Rail and there are also opportunities to achieve further qualifications including Higher National Certificates, foundation degrees and a bachelor’s honour from Sheffield Hallam University.
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 skills 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.
A current apprentice is Jamie Mills from Bognor Regis who is based in the Network Rail depot in Brighton.
Jamie, who specialises in track maintenance, said: “I’m now a second year apprentice and am really enjoying earning and learning at the same time. I saw the apprenticeship scheme advertised and decided to apply as I like working with things and wanted to find out what it could offer me. There are so many opportunities within Network Rail and I want to do well in my career.
“Being a Network Rail apprentice has taught me a lot and I’ve enjoyed learning about track maintenance and meeting new people who are also part of the apprenticeship scheme. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is thinking of applying.”
Mark Ruddy, Network Rail’s route managing director for Sussex, said: “An apprenticeship with Network Rail is a great option for young people who want to forge a career and combine practical, technical and leadership skills. Whether you join straight from school or after college or work, the apprenticeship programme can be the first step to a challenging and rewarding career.
“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.”
The 10 places in Sussex and Surrey are part of 240 being offered nationally. The Network Rail apprenticeship scheme is always oversubscribed and last year more than 5,000 people applied for around 200 positions. Applications can only be made online at www.facebook.com/ontrack.
Notes to editors
*Employees who undertake the two-year HNC part-time course continue to carry out their roles within maintenance depots and elsewhere in the business. Network Rail pays for the university fees, accommodation 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.
About the Network Rail advanced apprenticeship scheme:
It is a three-year programme that equips you with the skills and experience to become a maintenance engineering technician. www.facebook.com/ontrack
There are five engineering programmes: track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design and telecoms. Each one gives you the chance to work in a critical area of the business, where your development will continue beyond the three years of the scheme.
Paid learning:
In the first year, apprentices will be paid £8,400 + £1,150 when they successfully finish the year; the salary will rise to £11,750 in the second; and £14,000 in the third.
In the first year, Network Rail will also provide meals, accommodation and work clothing (at no cost to the apprentice). We provide the personal protective equipment that they need – including safety boots, cargo trousers and a fleece. There are plenty of holidays: 28 days plus bank holidays in total. Network Rail will pay for apprentices to travel home for long weekends and Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.
Qualifications:
After three years, apprentices will have the Level 3 qualifications (NVQ, BTec and ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management)) and skills to develop a long-term career with Network Rail. Many apprentices complete their first year and soon start to think about their career options – and many set their sights on becoming technical officers, team leaders or managers. There are even further opportunities to study a foundation degree for those who demonstrate the commitment and ability.
Contact information
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Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
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Network Rail press office - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
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