OREANDA-NEWS. Network Rail has announced plans to recruit eleven new apprentices across Yorkshire as part of an expansion to its award-winning Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme.

The three-year programme will now offer 300 young people throughout the country the chance to “earn while they learn” in 2017. Apprentices will be recruited through two intakes, in March and September, and will gain valuable work experience, transferable skills and recognised qualifications.

The apprentices will spend their first five months at Network Rail’s modern training facility near Coventry, specialising in one of five areas: electrification and plant, overhead lines, signalling, telecoms or track. They will then return to the region and work at local depots in Doncaster, York and Malton to deliver a bigger, better railway for passengers as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Network Rail group HR director, Ian Iceton said: “Network Rail has been committed to providing opportunities for young people to develop and progress into a rewarding career for more than ten years. Britain’s railways are one of this country’s success stories and apprentices are a vital part of our 36,000-strong team working to deliver our Railway Upgrade Plan to make our railway better and bigger.

“I urge anyone that has the determination, talent and enthusiasm to work in a role where you not only make a difference every single day but also contribute to building the railway for the future to join us by applying for the Advanced Apprenticeship scheme today.”

Last year, Network Rail received more than 4,000 applications for the Advanced Apprenticeship scheme.  Apprentices join the 20,000-strong team of front line engineers and technicians who fix and maintain the rail infrastructure, enabling 1.6 billion rail journeys to be made every year. The majority of those coming through the apprentice scheme also progress their career with Network Rail, with 85% of those who started on the scheme in 2005, when it was first launched, still working for the organisation.

Jonah Branch, 19, from Bradshaw, Halifax joined the Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme in 2015: “After completing my A-levels at North Halifax Grammar School, I decided that I wanted a change from traditional education. I heard about Network Rail’s apprentice scheme whilst I was volunteering at Keighley and Worth Valley heritage railway and, after researching the scheme, decided to apply.”

I really enjoyed my first year. I made lots of new friends and learnt plenty of new skills. It’s clear that there are plenty of opportunities to progress within the organisation. I would like to move into a leadership role, so the wide range of career paths and opportunities which Network Rail offers is perfect for me. I’m so glad I chose Network Rail – it’s an apprenticeship that is well worth doing.”

The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship scheme is open to anyone who is 18 by 1 March 2017 and the closing date for applications for the March intake of apprentices is Monday, 31 October 2016.