09.05.14
Jobs and the skills gap – Panel discussion at Infrarail
At this year’s Infrarail exhibition there has been a ‘call for questions’ ahead of an open discussion, featuring an expert panel, which will focus on developing the strategic labour needs and training of the UK’s rail industry now and in the future.
The panel is made up of Gil Howarth, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering; Glenn Robinson, of the National Apprenticeship Service; Varsha Manhas-Sanderson, Network Rail’s head of training; and Roy Rowlands, Trustee of the UK Rail Industry Training Trust. They will be answering questions posed at the event and sent in prior to the discussion.
The event will be held on 21 May at 2:30pm on The Platform at Infrarail. The panel wants to hear what organisations are doing to make a difference to the training and development of their existing workforce as well as discussing how they are engaging with the leaders of tomorrow through the promotion of careers in the rail industry to students across the country.
The open discussion could not come at a more important time, as the recent HS2 Growth Taskforce report highlighted that NSARE’s research shows there is a ‘skills gap’ in railway engineering. The industry is also faced with the challenge of an ageing workforce which, in turn, creates a need and opportunity for new talent to enter the industry bringing with them new ideas and ways of doing things to help increase efficiency, safety and passenger numbers, while reducing cost.
To ask the expert panel questions make your way to the Platform at Infrarail 2014, Earls Court, London on 21 May at 2:30pm. You can pose your question directly to one, or all, of the panel.
Alternatively you can submit your questions to Roy Rowlands via email: [email protected] or on 0161 833 6320.