Media centre

Monday 23 Feb 2015

Wanted! 35 talented apprentices

Region & Route:

Network Rail is seeking to recruit 35 young people from the north east and East Midlands for its award-winning apprenticeship scheme, as it continues the largest investment into the railway since Victorian times.

The scheme offers anyone over the age of 17, a fantastic opportunity to earn while they learn, gain valuable qualifications and skills and to build a career in engineering.

More than 2,000 people have joined the scheme since 2005. These include school and college leavers as well as those that were unhappy with their jobs, and chose to go back and into training to secure a more stable, long-term career. Network Rail is recruiting 200 apprentices nationwide this year.

Lewis Ashton joined as an apprentice in 2012 and is now working in a depot in York. He said: “I joined because I wanted job security and to learn a real trade. The whole package was really attractive, the qualifications are transferable and it seemed a secure career to get into. My mates were initially surprised that I’d gone to an apprenticeship but having heard how I’m getting on, some of them are applying too”

Ian Iceton, human resources director at Network Rail said “We’re investing £38bn into upgrading and improving the railway so there’s never been a better time to join us. Our apprentices earn while they learn, gain top quality qualifications and are part of a 35,000 strong team helping people safely take more than 1.5 billion journeys every year. I urge anyone who is interested in building a career where you can make a real difference to apply to be a Network Rail apprentice today.”

The first year of the three-year scheme is spent at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at the Royal Navy’s HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There apprentices train in one of five core specialist areas: track, signalling, telecoms, electrification and plant and overhead lines. During their second and third years they experience work on the rail network’s front line, gaining vital skills as they train to become maintenance technicians. This on-the-job training is completed by further off-railway learning at out training centres. Apprentices will be based at depots across the region including Derby, Doncaster, Leeds, Lincoln, Newcastle and York.

The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship scheme is open to anyone who is 17 by 31st August 2015. Further details on the scheme, including cases studies of current and former apprentices talking about their own experiences, can be found on our website: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/apprentices.