New scheme sees 11 jump on board as railway apprentices

Eleven north Essex apprentices have started their journey to becoming qualified railway engineers.

Taking part in the pilot of a new scheme called Trax, the apprentices will learn how to handle themselves and their work safely on the railway lines and split their training between on the job and in the classroom.

Developed in conjunction with Colchester Institute, the apprenticeship is being run by TES 2000, based in Heath Business Park, Colchester.

The company, established 22 years ago by Tony Evans, works alongside Network Rail and independent clients to provide the skills and resources needed to minimise risk on the railway and ensure a high standard of delivery.

The firm covers possession management, technical, track service, electrification and training services among others.

Tony says: “Over the next ten years rail in the UK will be subject to growth. There is a huge amount of investment going to the networks and the industry is taking a good look at itself.

“We can see we are losing skills and key people from the industry, so we are doing some succession planning and building the workforce for the future.”

The 11 apprentices are the first to be taking part in the qualification and if successful, it will be rolled out to the North East and North West of England.

It will also continue to run in Colchester, with Colchester Institute.

Tony says: “We have strong links with Colchester Institute and we want to find the right people with the right attitude, behaviour and work ethic, for these jobs. They will be working in a high-risk environment so they have to know what they are doing and do it right.”

Tony, who spent some of his career in oil exploration in the North Sea and as a senior officer in the London Fire Service, continued to work in the health and safety industry when he left the service, establishing TES 2000.

The apprentices, all working towards Level One NVQ before starting Level 2, had their first track walkout at the TES 2000 site in Grange Road – a purpose built railway track.

Tony says: “The apprentices need to see this as an eight-week interview process, which is how long the Level One takes. They have to pass it before they can move on to Level Two.

“They then work four days a week, with a mentor, and spend a day a week at college. They are paid for 30 hours a week.”

He hopes the scheme will be able to take ten apprentices every three months from now on.

Once qualified, they can follow careers related to the railway.