Rail Employment and Skills Academy opens in the East Midlands

Rail Minister Paul Maynard has welcomed the launch of a new Rail Employment and Skills Academy on the 16 September 2016 in the East Midlands.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard (centre) at the Rail Employment and Skills Academy launch

The Rail Employment and Skills Academy is formed from a partnership between Derby College and the Rail Forum East Midlands, which represents over 150 rail related businesses across the East Midlands.

Located within Derby College, one of the UK’s largest further education colleges, the Academy will have access to local rail businesses across a range of disciplines including construction, engineering, finance as well as support services.

The Rail Employment and Skills Academy intends to develop a diverse and highly skilled workforce which will enable businesses across the East Midlands to win new rail orders both at home and abroad.

Rail Employment and Skills Academy will develop programmes that address future skills requirements

Commenting on the opening, Rail Minister Paul Maynard said: “The UK rail industry has all the ingredients to be a world leader and our investment in the Midlands Engine puts this region right at the heart of that potential growth and prosperity.

“We are creating thousands of high quality careers, with the aim of generating 30,000 apprenticeships across the country in the rail and road sector by 2020. This new venture from Derby College and the Rail Forum East Midlands is an excellent example of how industry and the community can work together to boost prospects for local people.”

The Rail Employment and Skills Academy Advisory Board will be chaired by Rail Forum member and CEO of ISS Labour, Simon Higgens. He will be supported by senior executives drawn from local rail businesses including: East Midlands Trains, Angel Trains, Porterbrook Leasing, Resonate, SNC Lavalin, LORAM UK, ESG Rail, Carillion, Atkins, Datum Composites, EliteKL, CoMech Technology, Collis Engineering and Lindhurst Engineering. Sheena Hendrie of Resonate has agreed to act as the Advisory Board’s vice chair.

One of the first tasks of the new Rail Academy will be to develop industry specific full time and apprenticeship programmes that address the rail industry’s current and future skills requirements.