The ScotRail Alliances’s fourth intake of Modern Apprentices has celebrated securing permanent employment on the railway and completion of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
The 18-month-long Customer Service Modern Apprentice scheme saw six apprentices, aged 18-22, work towards achieving a Level 2 Scottish Vocational Qualification in Customer Service as well as a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
During the programme, they were trained, paid and given placements in key frontline customer service roles including - station booking office, gateline, ticket examiner and on-train hospitality host.
Additionally, three apprentices gained a modern apprenticeship in Level 3 engineering maintenance.
The engineering apprenticeship is a four-year programme where the first year is spent at full time college and thereafter day release for the remaining three years.
All eight of the apprentices have secured full-time positions within the ScotRail Alliance.
Jordan Bingham, ticket examiner, said: “The Modern Apprentice program is probably one of the best things I have done.
“During my time as an apprentice I learned new skills and gained confidence with working with new people and the public.
“I was thrilled to secure full-time employment on completing my apprenticeship. It just proves the worthwhile the programme is.
“I would recommend it to anyone that's looking to challenge themselves and improve in what they do.”
Laura Friel, ticket examiner, said: “Completing my Customer Service Modern Apprenticeship with ScotRail was so rewarding. I’m glad I done it.
“Having the opportunity to move around the business and learn different aspects of the railway that I wouldn't have got a chance to experience out-with the apprenticeship was the highlight.
“I was really happy to achieve a full-time job with the railway as a ticket examiner. I can use my experience from the apprenticeship in my new role to further my career in the railway.”
Alex Hynes, ScotRail Alliance managing director, said: “We are extremely proud of our apprentices.
“These young people have worked hard to complete their apprenticeship and now take the next step in their careers.
"The value of taking on an enthusiastic apprentice cannot be understated and the programme is incredibly important to businesses, individuals and the economy.
“Today's Modern Apprentices are the skilled and qualified workers of tomorrow and they’ll help us build the best railway Scotland has ever had.”
Notes
Customer Service Modern Apprentices 2015-2017
- Ashleigh McLaren, age 20 from Springburn, now part time ticket examiner at Glasgow Central
- Jonathan MacLean, age 18 from Merryton, now ticket examiner at Motherwell
- Jordan Bingham, age 22 from Lanark, now CCTV announcer supervisor at Paisley CCTV Centre (ScotRail Alliance Modern Apprentice of the year 2016)
- Laura Friel, age 20 from Kilsyth, now ticket examiner at Airdrie
- Louise Murdoch, age 19 from Bonnyrigg, now gateline (ticket gate) at Edinburgh Waverley
Engineering Modern Apprentices 2013-2017
- Matt Kitchen, age 24 from Shandwick, now maintenance team member at Inverness Depot
- Blair McWatt, age 20 from Polmont, now maintenance team member at Haymarket Depot
- Cameron Wilson, age 23 from Motherwell, now maintenance team member at Corkerhill Depot
Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award (DofE) & ScotRail information
- Partnership established in 2010
- 38 apprentices have completed their DofE with the ScoRail Alliance
- 10 currently going through the journey
- First five engineering apprentices completed DofE in April 2017, previously only Customer Service apprentices
- The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is achieved by completing five elements, all undertaken throughout the apprenticeship programme: volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and residential.