Opportunities for apprenticeships within Network Rail are being highlighted – as figures show the career route is popular but there is a lack of knowledge about the wide range of options available.
New research* from Network Rail to mark this week’s National Apprenticeship Week showed the pathway is seen as a viable way into the workforce.
Nearly nine out of ten adults in the Eastern region (88%) agree that apprenticeships are a great way to kick-start your career – and more than half (53%) would choose the route if starting their career over.
But 82% had not considered working in the railway industry. Of these, a quarter said the reason was that they felt they would not find a job which matched their skills.
Fardosa Said (pictured) made the switch from the health sector to become a project manager apprentice in Network Rail’s Eastern region. The 24-year-old, from west London, said: “I had a lot of the soft skills that I thought were transferrable to Network Rail. I had heard about the great culture which is why I thought it would be the perfect fit for me – and it is.
“I don’t really have a typical day as an apprentice. I split my time between the construction site and Network Rail office. When we have live sites, I spend a lot of time down there, getting involved. It’s shown me exactly what I will be doing as a project manager in the future.
“One piece of advice I would give to someone is to just go for it. Don’t doubt yourself. If you feel like you have the skills necessary, or even if you don’t, give it a shot.
“Network Rail is such a big organisation. There are so many roles and opportunities within the apprenticeships that it’s just about getting your foot in the door. Once you’re in Network Rail, the world’s your oyster.”
Through its diverse range of apprenticeship schemes, Network Rail provides hands-on experience and career development – from engineering and business to IT and finance. These opportunities allow individuals to earn while they learn, gaining skills that contribute to the essential running of the railway, connecting people and passengers across Britain.
The rail industry directly employs more than 100,000 across varying roles and generated £26 billion in economic, environmental, and social benefits to the country over the past year.**
Richard Turner, Network Rail’s head of apprenticeships, said: “We’re really committed to investing in the future talent that we need to build, maintain, and run Britain’s railway, and apprentices are a vital part of that.
“We want to attract more apprentices to the railway and are looking forward to working with Skills England to offer shorter, more flexible railway apprenticeships, helping us maximise our Skills & Growth Levy which aims to strengthen the connection between the education and rail sectors.
“Our schemes have no upper age limits and are suitable for anyone and everyone wanting to build a career in the railway. You don’t need to follow a traditional university path to make a real impact in an industry that keeps millions moving every day – all that we ask is that our applicants have a passion for making a difference.”
Network Rail is recognised as one of the top 100 apprenticeship employers in the UK and over the last five years has recruited 1,435 new apprentices.***
Visit networkrail.co.uk/apprenticeships for more information.
Image/video credit: Network Rail
