Media centre

Monday 6 Feb 2012

WOMEN IN MILTON KEYNES WHO WANT DEGREES URGED TO TAKE APPRENTICE ROUTE

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Many young women in Milton Keynes are missing out on a career in engineering because traditional university routes are closed to them because of subject choices they made pre-GCSE, according to Network Rail. A Network Rail apprenticeship can reopen those academic doors, with the company funding around 40 apprentices a year to further their education with a part-time HNC in engineering. The best are then supported to do foundation degrees, undergraduate degrees and reach chartered engineering status.

Today, the start of National Apprenticeship Week, the company is urging young women who are interested in a career in engineering to apply for its advanced apprenticeship scheme for 2012 – with 200 places up for grabs across Britain. Applicants can visit a new Facebook page www.facebook.com/ontrack with videos, profiles and content managed by current apprentices who can respond directly to any enquiries and showcase the opportunities on offer.

Official figures from the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that women get better grades at university than men with 66% achieving a first or 2:1 compared to 60% of men. However only 15% of people taking engineering or technology undergraduate degrees are women.

A focus group with women on the Network Rail scheme revealed that recognised qualifications and the opportunity for further training and development were one of the main reasons they were attracted to joining the company.

Commenting on the new campaign, Network Rail head of resourcing Adrian Thomas, said: “We recruit smart and ambitious women and men through our apprenticeship scheme who we know if supported can go on to higher academic achievement. As a growing sector, rail needs to recruit and retain top quality engineers for the future.

“Our recruitment experience tells us that many young people find the route to higher education in engineering closed because of their GCSE choices, which has a knock on effect to A level and degree options. By reopening the academic doors to those who have not taken the traditional route, we hope to attract more talented women to apply and nurture that engineering expertise that will make our business stronger, more successful and better value for the British public.”

Fay Howell is an assistant track engineer who is based at Milton Keynes. The 24-year-old said: “I applied for the Network Rail Apprenticeship Scheme in 2005 because I was interested in mechanical engineering, working outside and being active. The apprenticeship course sounded like a fantastic opportunity for me to learn and develop my interests as well as offering great career prospects.

“The scheme helps to support new, young and enthusiastic talent into the company and offers the prospect of a long term career. It has helped me grow in knowledge and confidence within my professional career and also as an individual, which I value greatly. Four years on from completing the apprenticeship, I am still looking to further myself and my career within Network Rail. I face new challenges every day, which makes for a very exciting environment and industry to work in.”