Skills Minister John Hayes has welcomed a ground-breaking Apprenticeship to Fellowship scheme which will transform career opportunities for engineering apprentices joining the railway industry.
The scheme will enable apprentices to gain professional recognition at all levels within their Engineering Institution, and will provide an equally valued route to the top of the engineering profession in addition to the traditional academic route.
Speaking at the first major conference organised by the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering, Mr Hayes said:
“I am determined to widen and deepen our country’s skills base by breaking down barriers between vocational learning and higher education.
“By opening up the route to higher qualifications to more young engineers, including via advanced and higher apprenticeships, employers, engineering institutions and the Engineering Council will build a world beating rail sector.”
The conference, for railway engineering employers, training providers and other key stakeholders, was held yesterday at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in Westminster to coincide with ‘Vocational Qualifications Day’.
Welcoming the Government’s support for the initiative, the Chairman of both NSARE and Crossrail, Terry Morgan, added;
“As a former manufacturing apprentice, I am delighted that the Engineering Council and the Engineering institutions have joined together with NSARE to form a Policy Group which will drive this initiative forward.
“It is essential that young people who choose a vocational career path have equal opportunities to progress their careers as those who choose to go to university.”
The policy Group comprises senior executives of:
- Engineering Council
- Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Institution of Civil Engineers
- Institution of Railway Signal Engineers
- Permanent Way Institution
- The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- The Welding Institute
- National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering
The Chairman of the Policy Group, Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and an NSARE Board Member commented;
“The Professional Engineering Institutions have come together for the first time in a joint initiative with the National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering.
“This unique venture will allow many more talented people to rise to the top of the railway industry, and ensure a safe, modern, UK railway network for the future – including High Speed Rail.
“Many great engineers have entered engineering through a vocational rather than academic route and this will give all professional engineers and technicians equal chance to excel and reach the top of the railway engineering profession.”
Gil Howarth, Chief Executive of the Academy added:
“The Railway Engineering sector needs to double the number of apprentices that it takes on each year from about 500 to 1000.
“To fulfil their potential, we must ensure that they have the opportunity to obtain the necessary qualifications for them to be able to progress right to the very top of their chosen profession.
“We will develop a common approach, in conjunction with employers, which will help and encourage those apprentices who are willing and able, to progress through the various grades of Engineering Institution membership right through to Fellowship.
“Career progression for such individuals will be helped considerably as a result of this initiative.”
