Today sees National Apprenticeship & Careers Week kick-off, and Govia Thameslink Railway has announced that it is doubling the number of apprenticeships it will be offering in 2020.
The train operator beat its 2019 target of 140 apprentices, and it is set to provide over 3000 apprenticeships in 14 roles in 2020, with roles ranging from drivers and engineers to admin and marketing.
Apprenticeships are open to everyone of all ages and backgrounds, including current employees of Govia Thameslink Railway.
GTR’s focus on apprentices follows its accreditation by the Education Skills Funding Agency as a training provider. This means GTR can provide more training in-house, with a focus on the skills needed for careers in rail.
Its increased commitment to apprenticeships should help with the looming skills gap in the rail industry, offering education and opportunities after warnings from The National Skills Academy for Rail of a considerable technical skills shortage in the sector.
The apprenticeship roles will be based across the GTR network, from Brighton to King’s Lynn, with drivers located at main depots including Selhurst and Hornsey. Business and head office apprenticeships will be based across sites in London, as well as Three Bridges in Crawley, West Sussex and Bedford.
Anyone considering applying for an apprenticeship with Govia Thameslink should click here.
What did the officials say?
Zoey Hudson, Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
“The demand for skilled staff in the rail industry has never been higher. I am so pleased that we are creating more new apprenticeship opportunities than ever before. We are developing the skills of those who are already working in rail but also giving life-changing career opportunities to people from all backgrounds. This is all part of diversifying our recruitment approach to give more people better access to jobs and a career in rail.”
Ramla Abshir-Slevin, 32, is an Apprentice Station Manager based at East Croydon. She said:
“In January this year, a position for an Apprentice Station Manager came up and I instantly knew I wanted the job. I applied and fortunately got it. For me, my greatest achievement in the railway has been to get where I am now. Not only do I get to do what I love, but I will be rewarded with a qualification at the end of this.”
Rosie-Jayne Wiles, 20, is an Apprentice Electrical Engineer from Sandy, Bedfordshire, who works at the operator’s train servicing depots across the network, including Hornsey and Selhurst. She said:
“This is the type of independence the apprenticeship has given me. Everything I wanted to achieve at the end of my apprenticeship is on track to be a reality. I feel secure in the knowledge that I could quite easily have a job for life and am really proud to inspire other young women into the railway and particularly engineering. This is where I am supposed to be right now.”
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Responses
Govia Thameslink Railway should start planning ahead if they were to extend the TSGN franchise for few more years and to replace the Class 313 and Class 455 used on Southern South London suburban and Southern East and West Coastway routes.
With the option of inheriting more Class 455s from South Western Railway to help boost more capacity on the suburban routes in South London.