Great Western Railway: Named Among Country’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers

The train operator joins an elite group of employers recognised by the Government for delivering outstanding apprenticeship programmes.

With more than 70,000 employers in England offering apprenticeships, GWR Human Resources Director, Ashley Bray, said securing a place in the top 100 was a significant achievement.

Ashley said:

"It’s another achievement we can be immensely proud of. To be recognised alongside some of the country's leading employers reflects the dedication of our teams and, most importantly, the talent and commitment of our apprentices.

"Combined with becoming the first train operator to achieve Platinum accreditation for our apprenticeship programme, this recognition reinforces our commitment to creating real opportunities for diverse young people from our local communities to build rewarding careers in the railway."

The Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings, produced by the Government and careers platform Higherin, celebrate organisations demonstrating excellence across three key areas:

• Achievement: supporting apprentices to successfully complete their programmes
• Commitment: offering a diverse range of apprenticeship opportunities, particularly for young people.
• Reviews: providing an outstanding apprentice experience

Earlier this year, GWR became the UK's first train operator to achieve Platinum status in the Investors in People ‘We Invest in Apprentices’ accreditation.

Working in partnership with Exeter College, GWR launched its vocational apprenticeship programme in 2016. Quest apprenticeships were introduced in 2020, enabling existing colleagues to gain recognised qualifications alongside their day-to-day roles.

Today, GWR offers more than 17 apprenticeship programmes across its network, supporting more than 300 apprentices in a wide range of roles.

GWR Learning and Development Manager, Andrew Perry, said:

“We’ve been on an incredible journey since launching our first apprenticeship programme in 2011 with just 15 apprentices.

“To be recognised as one of the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers is fantastic recognition of everyone's hard work and the positive experiences our apprentices have throughout their journey with us."

CASE STUDY

Sophie Carter, 22, from Plymouth, pictured above, was the winner of the inaugural Sir Andrew Haines Apprentice of the Year Award at GWR’s own internal recognition programme this year.

As a Customer Service apprentice, she juggled a number of demands on her time – completing a level 2 colleague course, a foundation degree and Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. 

Moving on to a Driver Manager Apprenticeship, Sophie was the driving force behind a train crewed solely by current and former apprentices as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

This project demonstrated her planning, strategic thinking and project management skills, and received praise from the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP.

Sophie now uses her experiences to inspire and support current apprentices, encouraging them to believe in their potential and overcome challenges. She has had a significant impact on the business and the apprenticeship community.

Sophie said:

“It’s brilliant to see GWR recognised as one of England's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers because it reflects the genuine investment the company makes in its apprentices.

“I've been given opportunities I never imagined, from developing new skills and gaining qualifications to leading projects that have made a real difference. It's a place where you're encouraged to grow, challenged to achieve your potential and supported every step of the way, and I'm really proud to be part of that success.”