Northern has established itself as the ‘Main Provider’ for rail industry apprenticeships within the country after an OFSTED review. The operator is providing more than 250 apprentice train drivers and conductors currently on its payroll.
As the officially recognised main provider on the register of apprenticeships, Northern will be afforded the ability to train industry newcomers from various other operators. This training will be focused on fields such as train driving and passenger transport.
Northern’s training academy offers a plethora of educational opportunities for apprentices to develop their skills through classroom learning, which includes the increased use of virtual reality technology accompanied with more traditional methods. Apprentices are also allocated a personal instructor to mentor their development and supported through and Apprenticeship coach who conducts regular reviews to monitor progress.
Helen Wright, apprenticeship, and governance manager at Northern, said:
“It’s great to see so many apprentices completing their apprenticeship with Northern and gaining a nationally recognised qualification to show their professionalism in the rail industry.
“We have plans to invest even more in our apprenticeship scheme and work with our local communities to make them aware of the roles in the rail sector.”
Northern acts as the second largest train operator within the UK sector, overseeing 2,000 services on a daily basis that caters for more than 500 stations across the North of England. It is positive to see such strong investment into apprenticeship opportunities being afforded by key operators within an industry needing rejuvenation in its workforce.
For more information about apprenticeships available with Northern, including current vacancies for conductors based at Barrow, Leeds, Newcastle, and Sheffield, please visit: northernrailway.co.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships.
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