200 talented apprentices wanted!

Network Rail is seeking to recruit 200 young people from across Britain 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.

Erin Henderson, 19, joined as an apprentice in 2013 and is now working on the Thameslink project, based in Ashford, Kent. She said: “You won’t find anything better. When I was in the sixth form there was a bit of prejudice around the idea of apprenticeships. But, I’ve moved out of my home like my friends that have gone to university - so I don’t feel like I’ve been left out – and I am getting paid. They’re all a bit jealous now.”

Fellow telecoms apprentice Joe Milne, 19 also joined the apprenticeship scheme in 2013 and is based in Bristol. “My cousin was on the scheme and I could see it offers good career potential. I like the fact that there are still possibilities when you complete it. You come out with a NVQ Level 3 that you can transfer to pretty much anything. If you work hard, you can go anywhere you want to go.”

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.

The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship scheme is open to anyone who is 17 by 31st August 2015. Further details on the scheme.

Are you interested in Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeships scheme? Please click here!