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QTS launches Rail Skills Academy to support next generation of rail industry workers

QTS Training has developed the QTS Rail Skills Academy with funding from Young Person’s Guarantee East Ayrshire, a Scottish Government initiative to guarantee all young people between the ages of 16 and 24 a positive destination, whether through further education, apprenticeship, full-time employment or volunteering.

To encourage young people into industries that may not be naturally attracted to, funding has been made available for Sector Skills Academies, with the purpose of creating short-term training experiences that lead young people into employment.

The Rail Skills Academy is a nine-week programme for cohorts of 12 young people on each programme.

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Attendees take part in personal development, employability, railway safety, small plant and tools, and H&S training, before taking part in four weeks of work experience within the different divisions of QTS.

During the nine-week programme, attendees are also introduced to other rail employers and given opportunity to learn about the different roles and work available within our industry. At the end of the programme, the attendees leave equipped with competencies, knowledge, understanding, and experience and are work-ready to enter our industry.

The first intake of young people are currently completing their last week of training, having already gained several competencies, and will be starting on their work experience programme next week. They have engaged really well with the programme and are all very keen to start their careers in the rail industry.

Discussing the launch of the QTS Rail Skills Academy, Lorna Gibson QTS Training’s Managing Director said: “We’re really excited to have launched this training programme, which we believe will give young people in East Ayrshire the opportunity to develop a prosperous and fulfilling career in rail. It’s wonderful to be able to provide this service for young people in the region, who may not know of the many varied and fantastic careers on offer in our industry.

Lorna added: “We’re keen for more young people aged 16-24 to join a programme with the academy, and particular females in that age bracket, as we realise this is an underrepresented demographic in the industry and we’d love to help more women become involved in rail. I’d like to thank the Young Person’s Guarantee East Ayrshire for providing funding for the programme and we look forward to continuing our work.”

During the Future of Rail event Kris Kinnear, Capital Delivery Director for Network Rail, Scotland, and Alex Hynes both met with the attendees and were extremely supportive of the Rail Skills Academy and the potential the academy has to bring young people to the industry.

The current intake started on 30th May and will complete the first programme on 28th July with the next starting on the 29th of August.

The programme will be running every three months for 18 months with the current funding.

Contact QTS Training to find out more

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