Network Rail are welcoming applications for apprenticeships at level 2 and level 3 engineering, with over 50 opportunities available throughout Wales and Western.

Tori Glover is 32 and from Overton near Wrexham, and began her apprenticeship in level 2 signalling in December 2021.

Tori had already worked in several different jobs since leaving school and is now following in her grandfather’s footsteps, training to become a railway signaller working in Shrewsbury.

Tori’s friends and family were unsure about her choice of apprenticeship, and she wants to use her own positive experience to dispel tired stereotypes which may be holding others back from an apprenticeship or work within the rail industry.

Tori points out some common myths about apprenticeships including:

• Apprenticeships are only open to young adults
  “I am actually 32-years-old and the other members of my intake range from 18 to 36 so, no, that is not true!”
• Apprenticeships are for the less academic
  “You could say I have a fairly developed academic life!”
  “When I was younger, I thought I wanted to be a vet but after volunteering at my local practice, I realised it wasn’t for me. After finishing school, I was accepted on a scholarship in America where I studied criminal justice and forensic accounting and took an internship with the city police department. I later went on to study a degree in French and Russian in the UK.”
• You have to be a rail enthusiast to work in the rail industry.
  “I was actually more into planes than trains before joining Network Rail. “In 2019 I was accepted onto an apprenticeship to become an Air Traffic Controller but, unfortunately, the pandemic prevented this from going ahead and that was when I spotted the signaller apprenticeship at Network Rail. I thought, if I can’t control planes, I would control trains!
  “In all honesty, the only trains I knew before joining were Thomas the Tank Engine and Ivor the Engine!”
• Railway apprenticeships are only for men
  “Absolutely not! I know there still seems to be this myth that women don’t or can’t work on the railway but it’s not true. There are many women in all areas of Network Rail and some teams are even made up entirely of women.
  “Through my research I discovered Network Rail is not only one of the top employers in the country, but also one of the top employers in the country for female workers.
  “Your gender doesn’t matter. The opportunities are for everyone,”
• Apprentices don’t get paid very much
  “I don’t know why there is this preconception that apprentices are not well paid. Network Rail apprenticeships are actually very well paid. In fact, this is the best-paid job I have ever had. There are other great benefits at Network Rail, too, like the pension scheme. I would say do your research.”
• A railway signaller just pulls levers all day long
  “I think my friends fell victim to this myth. They thought a signaller just sits in a box, not doing very much all day except pulling a lever every now and then. But there is a whole lot more to it than that. There is a huge level of responsibility and the course I am on is teaching me how to maintain and use all of the equipment that keeps trains safe on the railway.
  “It feels like I have found my forever home at Network Rail. Obviously, it is early days – But I can really see myself being in it for the long run.
  “In my opinion, it’s a no brainer – the apprentice scheme is a great way in and once you’re in, you are set for life!”

Rachel Heath started her career in the railway industry with Virgin Trains 20-years-ago and has worked her way up and is now head of operations delivery for Wales & Borders with Network Rail.

Rachel said:

“The opportunities on the railway are endless”

“Network Rail’s apprenticeship scheme provides fantastic on the job training, mixed with classroom-based learning and it’s the beginning of a journey that can lead to varied career options, including the chance to study for further qualifications and gain a chartered membership of a professional engineering institute.

“We have opportunities for signallers, front-line maintenance roles, operatives and technicians in Wales and Western and we’ll be keeping applications open until all slots are filled.”

Network Rail Wales and Western are looking for 53 engineering apprentices following a pause in apprentice recruitment during 2021 because of the pandemic. In order to keep trainees safe, the majority of apprentice learning was carried out online which created a backlog of in-person training to be provided. The pause in recruitment has also seen current apprentices caught right up to date with their learning within their work locations. Network Rail can now restart training and bring in new apprentices to train in a safe and engaging environment during 2022 and into the future.

You can find out more over on the Network Rail website here