12.03.15
TfL and suppliers create 200 new apprenticeship opportunities
Transport for London and its supply chain have created 200 new apprenticeship opportunities to help more young people into work, as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
Within the recruitment drive several new apprenticeship roles have been created, including positions in quantity surveying, highway and London Underground engineering, HR management, commercial procurement and web development. However, at the time of publication, a breakdown of the exact figures for each of these roles had not been provided.
RTM was told that of the latest 200 positions, 140 are being recruited by TfL alone and the rest by the supply chain. However, this figure is expected to rise over the course of the year.
A TfL spokesperson told us: “At any one time within TfL we have 920 apprentices on board, going throughout the different years, and that excludes the supply chain.
“We had a recruitment figure of 300 towards National Apprenticeship Week in 2014, but our suppliers always recruit throughout the year. We, at TfL, have two periods where we recruit, usually in February and April.”
New apprenticeship roles this year bring the total number of apprenticeship schemes on offer to 23, and most apprentices secure permanent jobs with TfL or its supply chain once they complete their scheme.
With London’s population set to grow from 8.6 million today to 10 million by 2030, apprentices will work on one of the biggest programmes of transport investment in the world.
The new opportunities also bring the total number of apprenticeship roles created by TfL and its supply chain to almost 5,500, supporting the Mayor of London’s campaign to create more apprenticeships for Londoners.
Sir Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner, said: “Apprentices are making an important contribution to keeping our city working and growing and I am very proud that we are able to offer 200 brand new roles from rail and highway engineering to software development.”
Today, TfL and its supply chain are holding a recruitment fair at City Hall, offering the new apprenticeship roles. The fair will be attended by 250 potential new apprentices who will have the opportunity to meet TfL and its suppliers’ recruitment teams and their current apprentices and find out how to apply for apprenticeships.
Hoda Al-Halfi, a first year Project Management Apprentice at TfL, said: “I looked into apprenticeships, even though they were never really mentioned at school. I came across the TfL scheme and had to give it a go, it combined work and education along with a great salary.
“I am so grateful to have been selected, I’m certain it will equip me with the skills and knowledge I need for a successful career wherever I chose to go!”
Applications for TfL apprenticeships can be made at
www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/apprenticeships
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