Rail Apprenticeships; the future of the industry
Fri 1 Jan 2010
Rail Technology Magazine talks to GoSkills, the sector skills council for public transport, about what help is available for those considering a career in rail.
What opportunities are there for those who want to engage in rail apprenticeships?
The availability of apprenticeships in any industry ultimately depends on employers choosing to recruit and train apprentices. As the SSC for Passenger Transport, a key role for GoSkills is raising awareness with employers of the apprenticeship frameworks that are in place and the benefits of apprenticeships for both employers and the apprentices.
At present, there two rail-specific apprenticeship frameworks available that cover engineering and operational roles in the rail industry:
• Rail Transport Engineering
• Rail Transport Operations.
The apprenticeship in Rail Transport Engineering enables apprentices to gain good understanding and experience of the work of a rail industry engineer; apprentices can specialise in one of several routes including signalling/telecommunications, electrification, and traction and rolling stock.
The Rail Transport Operations apprenticeship provides apprentices with the opportunity to specialise in one of several operation areas, including shunting, signal operations, control room operations and passenger services.
The apprenticeships offer participants the opportunity to study away from the work environment and to put their learning into practice in their workplace. For employers, this provides them with people that can develop the fundamental skills that match the employer’s needs, and with staff that are committed to learning and developing themselves. Apprentices also recognise the commitment that employers put into an apprenticeship and this motivates them further to succeed.
For employers thinking of offering apprenticeships, the good news is that they can often secure some financial contribution towards the training of their future workforce. All rail apprenticeship frameworks are centrally approved and funding agencies across the four nations make funding available to support most apprenticeship programmes, especially those designed for 16-18 year olds.
In addition to the rail-specific apprenticeships, employers and apprentices can also choose from a wide range of other programmes such as generic engineering and customer service frameworks.
What is GoSkills doing to help apprenticeships in rail?
GoSkills works with rail employers to develop and maintain appropriate apprenticeship frameworks for the industry. The frameworks drive the shape of training programmes and identify the qualification components that apprentices need to achieve. Frameworks have to comply with centrally-defined specifications for frameworks but employers have significant influence over the qualifications within the frameworks. GoSkills works closely with employers to ensure that the qualifications in the framework are fit for purpose.
GoSkills also work with employers to identify and access potential funding to support the training. This involves working with training providers to develop high quality training programmes and to assist in unlocking funding for the programmes.
To promote the benefits of apprenticeships to both employers and learners, GoSkills has developed a series of filmed case studies. These feature trainers and managers from a company delivering a rail engineering apprenticeship, and also showcase some of the apprentices that they employ. The case studies can be found at
www.goskills.org/index.php/standards_quals/45/20 GoSkills is also able to promote the successes of rail apprenticeships through its annual ‘Go For Excellence’ Passenger Transport Awards. The Awards, which will this year be hosted at the prestigious Wembley Stadium on 3 December, acknowledge the achievements of people working in the sector and include an award category for apprentices in the rail industry. There is also an award category for Company of the Year – an award that recognises employers’ commitment to training and staff skills development.
Some have criticised the Government for not doing enough to increase the number of apprenticeships available in the rail industry. Is this fair and what is the government doing to?
The number of apprenticeships underway in the rail industry is driven by demand from employers. Training providers will work with industry to develop and run programmes if there are sufficient apprentices to make the programmes they run cost-effective. Once there is sufficient demand, training programmes, usually supported by government funding, can be developed. There are no limits on the volume of apprenticeships or on the number of training programmes.
Governments in all four nations are currently promoting the value of apprenticeships and investing significant funding in apprenticeship programmes, including programmes to promote apprenticeships to employers.
Public funding is usually available across the UK to cover the cost of training programmes for apprenticeships for younger people and there is sometimes a funding contribution for older apprentices as well.
What can candidates do to ensure that they stand the best chance of being selected for either an apprenticeship or job?
Applicants for any rail job need to be able to demonstrate that they understand the industry, including the 24/7 working environment, and what would be required of them in the role. As an example, those applying for customer facing roles should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the importance of customer service. All applicants should also be able to demonstrate that they understand the importance of their role to the whole performance of the company - a recognition of the bigger picture and a willingness to go the extra mile.
GoSkills’ careers website
www.careersinpassengertransport.org has more information on the types of jobs available in the rail industry and some advice for applying for them.
What advice would you give to someone who is already in the rail industry, but who wants to either move across into a different sector or simply improve their skills?
The rail industry is recognised as a good provider of opportunities in training and development. It has a history of promotion of staff and of investment in developing employees to have a wide range of skills. When opportunities to develop skills arise, it is important for employees to grab these chances – rail employers like motivated and committed staff, employees cannot simply wait to be offered a new job or a place on a training scheme, they should actively seek out opportunities.
Rail employees develop many generic skills including time management, planning, organisation and communication; these skills are valuable in all jobs and can transfer to a wide range of occupations both within the rail industry, and outside of it.
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