MSP praises ScotRail customer service graduates

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Scotland’s Minister for Youth Employment praised ScotRail’s first-ever customer service apprentices at a graduation ceremony in Glasgow yesterday.

Eleven apprentices aged between 18 and 22 have now completed the 18-month scheme, having been trained, paid and given placements at ScotRail’s stations, trains and hospitality departments.

The scheme is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK rail industry.

More than 35 guests, including Angela Constance, Minister for Youth Employment, gathered at Glasgow’s Grand Central hotel on August 30 to celebrate the graduates’ success.

Angela Constance said: “A Modern Apprenticeship involves taking up employment, and at the same time learning new skills and enjoying new experiences.  The value to a company of taking on an enthusiastic apprentice cannot be understated.”

Four of the apprentices already have full-time positions at ScotRail stations, a fifth has started work on a graduate trainee programme with FirstGroup, the train operator’s parent company, and the others are applying for full-time roles with ScotRail.

Steve Montgomery, ScotRail’s managing director, said: “We are extremely proud of our apprentices. They have put in a great deal of work over the last year-and-a-half, overcome a number of challenges, and got the most out
of the experience.

“The programme has been a great success and will continue with a new group of 15 apprentices later in the year.”

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