Apprenticeship scheme plans to fill skills gap in rail industry

Network Rail and its supply chain partners are launching a pioneering apprenticeship programme with Gateshead College. Announced during National Apprenticeship Week, PlanBEE Rail aims to develop the next generation of multidisciplinary project managers, specifically trained to address skills shortages and meet the changing needs of the rail sector.

Apprentices will complete a Level 4 higher apprenticeship in associate project management, with hands-on experience on some of the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects, including the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme, the Digital Railway programme and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Successful candidates will be based in York, Leeds, Doncaster, and Huddersfield and will be employed to learn on the job, with a starting salary of more than £22,000. During the two-year programme, they’ll undertake four six-month placements working for leading employers in the rail sector including Alstom, AmcoGiffen, Amey, Balfour Beatty, BAM, Keltbray, Morgan Sindall, Network Rail, Systra, Transpennine Express, and Volker Rail.

Gateshead College says that its programme offers an alternative to traditional university routes with tuition fees covered. Apprentices will spend one day a week learning and developing their industry knowledge with Gateshead College.

The apprenticeship is based on a similar scheme in the built environment sector - PlanBEE - developed by Gateshead College in partnership with architecture and design company, Ryder. Launched in 2016, Gateshead College says that 98% of PlanBEE graduates progressed to permanent jobs within the sector.

The college programme has been rolled out across the UK, in the North East, Manchester and London. It’s also been implemented internationally in Canada through a partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Vancouver.