25.11.08
New training facility for north west
The traditional “theorist” method of rail training may be becoming a thing of the past. Develop Training Ltd have introduced the first state of the art rail training facility in partnership with Bethell Rail Ltd, a national rail contractor, in Kearsley, Lancashire which replicates a real life railway line environment
The training facility, located within the grounds of Bethell Rail, comprises a 350 square metre site including track, ballast, switches and crossings at set points, a tools store containing a wide range of tools, two classrooms and a canteen with welfare facilities.
This provides the perfect training environment meaning first hand training can be given to workers covering track safety, permanent way and health & safety. As well as this, plant training can also be undertaken within the facility which includes the use of rail drills, rail saws, ballast packers, impact wrenches and generators.
The site and equipment have been set up to meet industry national occupational standards. Programmes can be linked and successful candidates receive relevant NVQ qualifications.
Industry agreed national occupational standards are the bedrock for all the training activities undertaken thus ensuring all assessments carried out are against industry requirements.
When programmes have been successfully completed, successful students receive a national vocational award at level two in the City and Guilds Railway Engineering suite of qualifications.
The facility translates classroom training to real life experience and back in the workplace creating safer and more competent staff. The competence and safety awareness of all new railway workers is essential to every rail contractor looking to send these new entrants to the industry out on the track.
Roger Godfrey, transport director for Develop Training says: “This is the first of its kind in the north west. It ensures workers get first hand experience of what it is like to operate in a real track environment by including composite tasks and assessments running throughout the programme. It also ensures contractors like Bethell Rail receive a better skilled workforce once training has been completed.”
This view is mirrored by Tim Wood, rail director of Bethell Rail, who says: “There is an ever increasing need for the upskilling of new railway workers and by having a facility on our doorstep we can be assured that there will be an influx of competent rail workers we will be looking to take on once their training has been completed.
“By working in conjunction with Develop Training we know that the quality of training provided is being delivered by some of the most competent and experienced trainers in the UK.”
Develop Training offers an extensive Rail NVQ Level 2 10 week course throughout the UK. The first of these courses at the new facility in Kearsley started in the middle of September. Martyn Butler, business unit head for Develop Training says: “This is a great opportunity to train people of all ages who want to work on the railway. The first group of trainees have been recruited from Liverpool. They are really enjoying the experience and can already see some attractive career opportunities coming along.
“You can sense a new level of increased motivation that the new facility has no doubt bought to our training practices.
“For too long there has been a perception that tickets equals competence within this industry. We provide confidence to our clients that competence is assured when individuals successfully attain skills through our facilities. We also measure other competences such as attitude to safety, team working, flexibility and leadership potential throughout the process’
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