WORKSHOPS, DEPOTS AND MANUFACTURING
Network Rail opens depot doors to aspiring apprentices
Adam Hewitt reports on Network Rail’s drive to attract more young apprentices into the business.
etwork Rail’s Western route, from London Paddington through to Reading and out to south Wales, is in the middle of a major investment programme, one of the biggest anywhere in the rail network.
N
From the Reading railway and station upgrade to electrification, re-signalling and new IEP rolling stock, completely transformed.
the route is being
Network Rail wants 35 new apprentices to join its ranks along the Western route, and threw open the doors of two major depots in the Thames Valley area, at Reading and Didcot, for open events to show young people what’s on offer.
The attendees got the chance to experience what life could be like as a railway apprentice, and met the people and saw the technology involved in keeping Britain’s rail network running and expanding, via live demonstrations and presentations. They also got tips on applying to become an apprentice from those currently in the role, and past apprentices.
The open days, at the end of 2013, were aimed at those looking to start in September 2014, but also those just looking for future inspiration.
Michelle Palin, who heads up recruitment for the Network Rail scheme, said: “It’s a very exciting time to work on the Western route with projects like electrification, the redevelopment of Reading station and Crossrail. We need more
highly skilled people to
meet the challenges of a busier network and focus on improving performance and
“Many of our apprentices go on to be team leaders and managers and take up the opportunity to further their education with a foundation degree in engineering, which we fund and support.”
Since 2005, Network Rail has trained 1,050 apprentices across Britain through the three- year scheme, with a further 600 still in training.
The first year of the award-winning three-year scheme is spent at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. There apprentices specialise in either track, signalling, telecoms or electrification and plant. During their second and third years they experience work on the rail network’s front line, gaining vital experience as they train to become maintenance technicians. Throughout this time they regularly return to HMS Sultan for further courses and training to add to the experience gained on the rail network.
help us
In the first year, apprentices are paid £8,400, plus £1,150 when they successfully finish the year. Network Rail will also feed them, pay for accommodation and provide the clothing and personal protective equipment that they need – including safety boots, cargo trousers and a fleece. The salary rises to £11,750
increasing capacity as passenger numbers continue to grow.
“The apprenticeship is just the start of our learning programme. The Reading delivery unit is evidence of the quality of training our people of all levels are offered and we’re committed to developing our workforce.
in the second year; and £14,000 in the third.
After three years, apprentices will have the 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.
RTM has interviewed a number of past and present Network Rail apprentices in recent years. Bilal Jamil, for example, told us that he enjoyed doing a GCSE in engineering, and later realised the A-levels he chose weren’t for him and came back to the idea of engineering. He was thrilled when he was accepted on the advanced apprentice scheme and told RTM at an NSARE conference in 2012: “Here, I’m working: learning and earning and getting all this experience. But if I went to uni, getting work experience would be much harder. I’m working now on what I need to be doing. I’m hopeful of a career in this industry. I’ve always been looking ahead to where I want to be.”
NSARE chief executive Gil Howarth said then: “This is where the industry’s going. It’s these guys who are the engineers of the future, the managers of the future. It’s that sort of training programme that we’ve got to encourage for all of our young people.”
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rail technology magazine Dec/Jan 14 | 81
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