A group of 13 apprentices from Manchester and Liverpool have embarked on new careers in the rail industry after joining Vital Human Resources’ latest apprenticeship programme.
More than 160 people applied for the 13 positions with the Salford-based Morson Group subsidiary, all anxious to join the programme. This combines on the job training with academic learning as the apprentices work towards achieving a Level 2 NVQ in Rail Engineering Track Maintenance over the next 14 months.
During the first six weeks of the programme, the cohort will develop the basic skills and competencies required to build a successful career within the rail industry, combining classroom techniques with hands-on training delivered on a replica track environment at Vital’s headquarters.
Delivered in partnership with Morson Training, this first phase prepares them to gain first-hand experience and learning on a live railway as they are mentored alongside skilled operatives.
Vital Human Resources.
Gary Hardaker, executive director at Vital Human Resources, said: “Creating jobs, especially for younger people, is an economic priority and it couldn’t be a more exciting time to enter the rail industry.
“Despite the backdrop of COVID-19, the sector is booming thanks to a significant programme of investment which has only been bolstered by the government’s commitment to ‘build, build, build’. The infrastructure market is crucial to boosting the economy and upskilling the next generation of talent, to ensure we have the pipeline of resources to deliver such important programmes of activity is a key part.
“Our commitment to supporting the next generation is what makes our apprenticeship programme so successful. Some training schemes are simply a ‘box ticking’ exercise, but we invest significantly in our people and have developed a comprehensive programme, taught by industry experts, which gives our apprentices the essential skills to get ahead in their careers and ensure they add true value to our operations and our clients’ programmes.”
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