Creating opportunity for adult learners in the rail industry
Have you ever fancied a career in the rail industry? If so, then York College & University Centre’s new partnership with Rail Futures could help put you on the right track.
Rail Futures, who are a specialist technical consultancy, support colleges and training providers to deliver high-quality engineering training. The partnership with York College & University Centre is providing key-skills to improve employment outcomes to individuals looking to pursue a career in the rail industry.
Open to anybody between the ages of 19 to 55, we can accommodate different experience and skill levels. So, whether an individual is new to employment or looking to reskill, we can certainly help.
“The Rail Futures Network is made up of industry experts, who offer solutions and support to education establishments, wishing to deliver Rail Provision. York College & University Centre are currently delivering the Level 2 Rail Engineering Track Maintenance at their City Centre campus. They aim to support as many unemployed people into sustainable employment and through this partnership, this is happening!
“We currently have three Tier 1 contractors within our employer network who are diarised to interview the candidates, with the intention of offering work and further support. This is all supported by our Employer Office, Stacey Usher, her passion and enthusiasm is quite contagious.
“The Industry Expert Tutor, Leam, has also gone the extra mile by personally supporting the candidates in the industry, using his own experience, spanning over 20 years.
“The candidates have been engaged throughout the course and have personally recommended friends for the next course, resulting in another course and strong candidate numbers.
“We envisage this partnership going from strength to strength and we are hoping to support Level 3 provision in the 2023/24 academic year.”
“I’m finding the course really informative. Our tutor, Leam, really takes the time to make sure we have the information we need to get the job done.
“As well as spending time outside on the track, we have classroom studies to complete which include health and safety, technical drawing and learning about the correct tools and equipment.
“The staff at York College & University Centre are so friendly, and the facilities and equipment are great. After we have finished our six weeks at York College, we will be completing two weeks of Network Rail safety critical training, with a view to then starting work.”
“Working in a partnership of this kind enables us to bring rail engineering expertise into the college with a focus on upskilling or reskilling individuals to improve their employment outcomes in the rail industry.
“Welcoming adult students to develop their skills and acquire new ones provides the opportunity for adults to retrain, particularly poignant in the economic crisis we are in, however it does much more than this.
“Returning back to learning as an adult student can have a positive impact on an adult’s life, building a sense of purpose, improving self-confidence, self-esteem and improving mental health and wellbeing by connecting with other people. We look forward to welcoming and working with the next group of rail students.”
York College & University Centre are looking forward to welcoming the next cohort of Rail Engineering Track Maintenance students.
For more information on opportunities with Rail Futures, click here.
