PROSPECTS College, in Basildon, is to add a state-of-the-art railway engineering academy to its facilities, enabling apprentices to work with genuine equipment.

Due to open next month, it will be equipped with a replica railway station, along with track, signalling systems and a control room.

John Mockler, the college’s marketing manager, said: “Much of the high tech – and very expensive – equipment has been donated, and we are supported by major rail employers, such as Thales, Bombardier, Serco and Atkins Global.

“These operators already use the college to train their apprentices.

“The rail industry is expanding fast, and the Government is making fresh investment in projects, such as HS2, Crossrail and the modernisation of London Underground.

“Trained personnel are needed to build and run the new systems.

“The National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering has predicted that more than 2,000 fully-qualified signalling and telecoms technicians will be needed in the next five years.”

Prospects is one of only six training providers for the railway industry awarded a Skills Capital Infrastructure grant to develop its facilities.

Just under half of the £420,000 funding has come via the Skills Capital Infrastructure fund, which is operated by the Government to boost skills levels in key areas of the economy.

More than 50 young people have started on rail apprenticeships at Prospects. They are due to complete a three-year apprenticeship with an optional HNC.

Apprentices are paid a salary for the duration of their apprenticeship. They will qualify as technician-engineers in areas such as signalling installation and design, telecommunications, and rolling stock maintenance. Year 2 apprentice Oliver Gooch spoke about the opportunity it has given him.

He said: “By doing an apprenticeship programme, I get paid to learn and I am guaranteed a good job at the end of my studies.

“If I had gone to university, I would have only been learning the theory without the practical side, and I would have started my working life with a big burden of debt. “I am looking forward to being able to work with the new facility, and the hands-on training it will be able to provide.”

Mr Mockler said: “We will be offering a national centre of excellence, which will support skills requirements in the North, and Midlands, but in particular, London and the South East.”

In September, 80 new places will become available on the rail engineering course.

Neil Bates, Prospects College’s chief executive and principal, said: “These are amazing opportunities for young people and competition for these jobs will be fierce.

“Throughout the apprenticeship the young people will be employed by the rail companies and if they work hard they are pretty much guaranteed a job and a career in the rail industry.”

Applicants can be aged 16-24. The basic requirement is five GCSEs at A-C, including maths and science, or ‘A’ Levels.