Rail

National Apprenticeship Week 2021 ​Taking place across the country, National Apprenticeship Week showcases how apprenticeships have helped employers and people of all ages and backgrounds. Ganymede are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2021 to spotlight the amazing work done by our apprentices as well as to provide an insight into what the scheme involves.​Apprenticeships are a great way to hit the ground running, learn relevant skills whilst also making a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation you are joining. On top of all this, you'll be earning whilst you learn and working towards receiving a qualification at the end of your scheme. ​If you are considering an apprenticeship but aren't sure what it might involve, we spoke to two of our apprentices, Andy Rowland and James Bacchus, to provide you with an insight into the Ganymede scheme: ​​"Why did you want to do an apprenticeship?"​Andy "I wanted to do an apprenticeship as I felt that I would gain more from it in the long run, as opposed to just paying for my PTS and trying to get work and progress on track that way. I believe that I will become more employable in the future with the experience, opportunities and tickets I have gained so far through the apprentice program." James​ "I chose the apprenticeship route as I realised what an opportunity it was and how many different tickets and qualifications I could achieve. As well as this, I also realised it was a great opportunity to help start a fantastic career within the railway."​"What projects have you worked on with Ganymede?" ​Andy "So far, I have been involved in many Ganymede projects and have been putting to good use some of the tickets I have obtained, from using my Working at Heights to assist with a special project on a gantry where we were updating some safety railings, to operating the triple wacker on a big renewal job at Harrogate Station. I have also been involved in assisting the installation of a set of switches on the same job." ​James​ "I have been involved in a few different projects, such as full re rails to laying new tracks and troughing routes. I have also been a part of a specialist projects team who travel the country dealing with a variety of aspects such as signal improvements, signal renewals and putting new signals in. I have also been part of teams that were doing troughing routes, both taking out old trough routes and replacing with newer troughs and tidying them up, laying new cable to be installed into signals etc."​"What have you learnt during your apprenticeship with Ganymede?" ​Andy "I feel that I am progressing well through the apprenticeship thus far, both with the theory and practical aspects. I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to assist with work operations in a physical manor and contribute towards problem solving to get the job at hand completed within the set time scales." ​James​ "During my Apprenticeship with Ganymede I have learnt many different skills and roles since starting. I have learnt how to use and be competent with most of the small plant and hand tools that you will come across on the railway, as well as learning how to carry out a variety of different job roles such as troughing, laying and taking up track, sleeper changes laying new sleepers and digging them out correctly. As well as carrying out the civil side of the railway, such as clearing vegetation access improvements, cable pulling, troughing, signal improvements and laying new cables. I have enjoyed getting hands on and learning new skills whilst out on sites on jobs as well as working in different places all over the country."​"What are your future plans in your career?" ​Andy "I'm looking forward to progressing further. I strive to always better myself, to become a valued employee, a key team player and hopefully resulting in me being requested to assist with future work operations and to work my way up within the industry."​James​ "My future plans are to carry on learning throughout my apprenticeship and pick up as many skills as I can and to see what different job roles are out there. In doing so, I hope to find a certain role with in the railway which I enjoy and I can excel in and work my way up the ladder within this job role."​​If you would like to join a rail apprenticeship scheme or get more information on what the Ganymede apprenticeship entails, contact us for more information. ​​

Rail freight contributes £1.7bn to the economy and plays a huge part in reducing congestion and carbon emissions. Freight trains transport £30bn of goods each year, a quarter of which is made up of construction materials.The importance of a more sustainable environment paired with the potential rising cost of exporting post-Brexit means that rail freight usage is likely to increase significantly over the coming years.We’ve spoken to Maggie Simpson, Executive Director of the Rail Freight Group, about what a career in the sector is like and why you should consider rail freight when looking for your next role. Maggie’s 5 reasons why rail freight should be your next career choice are:​1. You’ll support businesses right across the economyRail freight works for businesses in many different parts of our economy. We move retail products from warehouses to supermarket shelves and imported and exported goods to and from the ports. We carry a quarter of all the shipping containers that come into the country which can contain anything from the latest designer clothes and electronics, to car parts to scrap metal. We move stone and cement for the construction industry to help build the homes, schools and offices we all need. We move cars, petrochemicals, steel, waste, letters and parcels, aviation fuel and even shellfish. When you work in rail freight you really get to understand what makes our economy tick! 2. You help improve the environmentMoving goods by rail makes a significant contribution to the environment. Each of our trains can remove up to 76 lorries from road transport, even more for some of our longest and heaviest services. In doing so, we help reduce road congestion and thus improve road safety, and we produce 76% less carbon dioxide than the equivalent journey by road. However, the industry isn’t complacent, and we are working to see how we can further improve our emissions, with ‘auto start-stop’ technology now fitted to many locomotives to reduce fuel use. 3. You get to travel everywhereOur trains really do go everywhere! Rail freight services run over pretty much the whole network, for commercial customers or when we support Network Rail with engineering trains and seasonal services. From china clay services from Cornwall to supermarket products to Inverness, from containers from East Anglia to steel to South Wales we span the whole rail network, so you can travel across the country meeting customers and delivering services. 4. Investment in new services, facilities and technologyFreight train operators and our customers are investing and there are plans for even more. This includes new state of the art wagons and locomotives, rail linked terminals and technology and systems to revolutionise the business. We are always looking for new ideas too so if you bring skills from other areas there may well be a role for you too. 5. It’s fun!The rail freight sector can sometimes feel like a family, and people will always look out for each other. At Rail Freight Group we host a number of events to bring people together, including our famous Christmas Lunch for over 800 people. We’re making strides on gender equality, and opening up opportunities for apprentices and trainees. Why not take a look at what the sector can offer you?​Rail freight jobsOpportunities in rail freight include jobs in engineering, maintenance, operations and many more. If you’re interested in finding out more about a career in rail freight or are looking for your next opportunity in the sector, view jobs below or contact us.CONTACT USVIEW JOBS

This blog is perfect for engineers in another sector that are looking to get into the rolling stock industry, or Ex-Forces wanting to know more about working in rolling stock. We have outlined the four main transferable skills for rail that our clients look for during the recruitment process, so if you have ever questioned ‘what do I need to be an engineer in rail?’, keep reading to find out!It’s no secret that there is a shortage of skills in rail. In 2015, the government announced that it was launching 30,000 new apprenticeships to train the transport workers of the future. However, as the workload increases, the need for skilled workers has never been more evident. There are 4.7 million train journeys made each day in Great Britain, and this continues to increase. Rail passenger journeys are at their highest since the 1920’s, making it imperative that there are enough engineers employed in rolling stock maintenance to keep things running smoothly. Rolling stock refers to the vehicles used on the railway, and the industry presents a fantastic opportunity for those with transferable skills to launch a successful career working in railway technology.​What do I need to work in rail?So, what are those transferable skills for rail? What do employers look for when hiring? And how can you start your career in an exciting and rapidly growing rail industry?  ​1. Engineering qualifications​Regardless of what industry you currently work in, you’ll be expected to hold a relevant qualification to be considered for a job within rolling stock. It’s best to focus on electrical instead of mechanical due to the change in technology on modern trains. Lindsay Warren, Principal Recruitment Specialist in rolling stock recommends: Electrical and Electronic Engineering (NVQ Level 3)Engineering Maintenance (NVQ Level 3)Railway Engineering (NVQ Level 3)​2. FlexibilityRolling stock jobs, particularly contract/freelance, would expect a reasonable amount of flexibility. There are large operations taking place throughout the UK but it’s unlikely that the role would be on your doorstep and so you’d have to consider working away from home. Shifts can also include nights and unsociable hours, so flexibility is a must.​3. Previous fault finding experience​If you’ve worked in an in-depth fault-finding environment you could be a perfect match for rolling stock maintenance engineering. Finding a fault, identifying the problem, fixing it and then testing is highly desirable experience. Some of the industries this could be relevant to are: Armed Forces (REME, Royal Navy and RAF)AutomotiveAviation & AerospaceFactory Maintenance (production equipment including drives, motors, PLCs)​4. Adaptability​The rail industry has changed massively over the years, the ‘boys club’ stigma of old is less prominent and the rolling stock environment is more diverse than it’s ever been. Technology is also shifting to modern electrical/electronic systems as part of the evolution towards a digital railway – these factors mean that you would need to be adaptable to change if moving from a different industry.​Jobs in rail and rolling stockRail is growing at a rapid rate and it’s showing no sign of slowing down, so there’s never been a better time to consider rolling stock and rail engineering.Jobs in rolling stock engineering include Technicians, Testing and Commissioning, Electrical Fitters, Mechanical Fitters, and more senior positions such as Production Managers and Engineering Managers. Click below to view jobs in rail and rolling stock.VIEW JOBS IN RAIL