Northern recruits more apprentice engineers

Eighteen young people from across the North of England have taken their first step in a rail career, joining Northern Trains on a three-year engineering apprenticeship.

The group, who are all studying for a qualification in rail engineering at Myerscough College in Preston, are part of the National Training Academy for Rail.

Over the next three years, they will complete specialist technical training in how to service, repair and maintain Northern’s fleet of 360 trains.

Once qualified, the apprentices will have the necessary experience to apply for a variety of roles with the train operator, including maintenance engineer and technical engineer. 

Paul Wilkinson, Northern’s engineering apprenticeship manager, said: “A regular in-take of apprentices is really important because it means we’re nurturing a future generation of talent.

“Supporting young people to get the skills and experience required to support not only our business, but the railway as a whole, is really fulfilling and I look forward to working with all of our new apprentices over the next three years.”

Jessica Townsend, one of the apprentices based at Northern’s TrainCare Centre in Hull said: “I’m really excited to get hands-on experience and get to know the people I’ll be working with at Northern.”