Still time to sign up apprentices for High Speed Rail college
Businesses are being urged to act quickly to sign up their talented employees for the last remaining spaces on the National College for High Speed Rail’s higher apprenticeship scheme.
Several businesses have already committed to sending their apprentices to the college, which opens in September. These include the Fusion joint venture (Morgan Sindall, BAM and Ferrovial), which has been awarded the central package of HS2’s enabling works contracts.
“As a ground-breaking institution, we want businesses to send us their brightest and best to help us create a workforce ready for the 21st century,” said Chief Executive of the college Clair Mowbray.
“Our first intake of apprentices will be the pioneers of high-speed rail in the UK. These apprentices will be ambassadors for Europe’s largest infrastructure project and testament to the bright future for the rail industry in Britain.
“Our apprenticeship programme will provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate the skills of these talented engineers and designers and the businesses they work for, providing us with a shop window to showcase British expertise in rail to the rest of the world.”
Mowbray is keen to dispel the belief that the college is oversubscribed, because places are still available if businesses act fast.
She added: “We’re also keen to hear from businesses with apprenticeship vacancies, so we can support them to advertise their vacancies and potentially match them with the talent pool who have applied directly to the college.”
The college, which has campuses in both Doncaster and Birmingham, will train up to 1,300 new rail employees every year. They will have the transferable skills necessary to be part of effective rail and infrastructure teams.
As well as the first intake of apprentices in September, the college is also offering places for courses starting in January and May 2018. ■ More information on the apprenticeships on offer is available on www.railmagazine.com and by visiting nchsr.ac.uk.