Training for the Rail Industry

 Qualitrain has many years of experience working with rail organisations. We offer a wide range of apprenticeships and qualifications to upskill staff at all levels of the sector. These range from engineering and leadership and management to the new improvement standards focusing on Lean Six Sigma. 

Training brings clear benefits for both individuals and employers:

• Improved workforce skills
• Increased safety
• Enhanced operational efficiency

We work directly with organisations. First, we conduct a training needs analysis. We then offer a programme of apprenticeships and qualifications tailored to the specific needs identified.

Our training programmes are designed for employers looking to upskill their workforce, and for individuals interested in entering or advancing in the rail sector. They cover a comprehensive range of topics.

Certain training focuses include safety, engineering, and leadership, ensuring that all critical areas are addressed.

Specialised rail short courses offer a quick way to gain specific skills in the rail sector.

Over the years, this has helped us build long-term relationships within the rail industry.

We invest time and effort in getting to know our clients, listening to their needs, and serving them as well as we can. This is the foundation of our successful partnerships.

Rail companies invest significantly in training and development programmes to enhance their employees' skills.

Introduction to the Sector

The rail industry is a cornerstone of the UK's transport network. It plays a vital role in connecting people, goods, and communities across the country.

The railway industry demands technical skills and up-to-date knowledge from its workforce. For new entrants, a solid understanding of the UK rail sector is essential for professional development and long-term career success.

Training courses tailored to the rail industry, such as those offered by the National Skills Academy, help individuals develop the skills and expertise needed to thrive in this challenging environment.

These programmes cover key areas such as:

• Railway engineering
• Operations
• Safety training

This ensures that learners are well-equipped to meet the demands of the industry. Investment in training and continuous development also contributes to the ongoing growth and innovation of the railway industry.

Understanding Railway Infrastructure

A clear understanding of railway infrastructure is fundamental to effective railway operations. The rail industry depends on a complex network of tracks, signals, stations, and supporting facilities. All of these require expert management and maintenance.

Railway engineering plays a key role in building, maintaining, and improving this infrastructure. This ensures that it meets the highest standards of safety and reliability.

Specialist training in railway infrastructure management helps individuals develop the technical skills and knowledge needed to excel in this field.

These programmes cover essential topics such as engineering principles, project management, and the latest industry practices. This helps learners build expertise and support the smooth operation of the railway.

Rail Engineering Training

Apprenticeships

We currently deliver the following rail engineering apprenticeships:

• Level 2 Rail Engineering Operative
• Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician
• Duration and learning options: apprenticeships typically take between 12 and 36 months, with flexible face-to-face and online learning to suit different schedules and needs.

As part of the apprenticeship process, candidates in the rail industry must pass medical assessments, background checks, and drug and alcohol screenings.

NVQs

Additionally, we deliver the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Performing Engineering Operations and the Level 3 NVQ Certificate in Rail Engineering Traction and Rolling Stock.

Completing these NVQs can significantly improve your job prospects in the rail industry by providing essential skills and recognised credentials.

Each qualification is focused on the core learning against any specific Traction and Rolling Stock role, and the key understanding that the rail industry has a high level of safety-critical work activities that require a disciplined and responsible approach.

It is important to note that GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 in maths, English, and sometimes science are often required for engineering jobs in the rail industry.

Core Learning

The learning covers a broad range of practical skills, including:

• Safe working practices
• General engineering techniques and working effectively to engineering solutions
• Fault finding and diagnosis to prevent or address equipment failures
• General maintenance practices and the effective replacement of components
• Digital systems and cybersecurity, including telecommunications principles, on-board software, firmware, and operational cybersecurity

With the launch of Qualitrain Engineering Academy, we now also offer the Level 3 Metal Fabricator, Level 2 General Welder, Level 2 Engineering Operative and Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeships.

The market itself is challenging. Finding and recruiting staff with the right experience and skills is getting harder within this competitive industry. Engineering skills taught at college are not always specific to rail and put more burden on a business’s competency management team.

Our experience within the rail sector has ensured that we have a track record of working closely with our customers to identify exactly what their specific training needs are. The rail industry offers a variety of roles, including engineering, signalling, network control, and customer service.

Team Leading & Management

Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor Apprenticeship

Within this area, we offer the Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor apprenticeship, which supports the development of the first-line management role. The learning helps provide direction, instructions, and guidance to ensure that set goals are achieved.

It also covers a range of key skills, including:

• Leading and managing people, and building relationships
• Communication
• Operational and project management
• Self-awareness and decision making
• Financial awareness

Level 5 Operations/Departmental Manager Apprenticeship

Additionally, we also deliver the Level 5 Operations/ Departmental Manager apprenticeship. This qualification helps managers develop key skills, including:

• Creating and delivering operational plans
• Managing projects
• Leading and managing teams
• Managing change
  Financial and resource management
• Talent management, coaching and mentoring

Bridging the Skills Gap

Leadership and management development has arguably never been more important. The sector is not only upgrading but also expanding to meet growing demands, and organisations must keep pace.

It is exciting to equip, educate, and empower the next generation of leaders to meet these demands.

We are proud to have helped to bridge that skills gap and given rail organisations a clear path to succession planning.

Work Experience and Placement

Gaining practical work experience is invaluable for anyone looking to build a successful career in the rail industry.

For new entrants and young people, work experience placements are a chance to:

• Apply their knowledge in real-world settings
• Learn new skills and understand different roles in the sector
• Work alongside experienced professionals and solve real problems
• Become familiar with the tools and practices used in railway operations and engineering

For employers, offering work experience and placements helps to:

• Nurture future talent
• Support succession planning
• Ensure new employees are ready to meet the demands of the workplace

By investing in practical, hands-on experience, the rail industry can continue to attract, develop, and retain the skilled workforce needed to drive progress and innovation.

Lean Six Sigma

What is Lean Six Sigma?

Lean and Six Sigma tools are used to drive efficiency and productivity, and to reduce waste within processes.

They can be used across all departments and roles. Wherever a process is followed, Lean Six Sigma can help identify and reduce waste.

Qualitrain provides training to upskill existing staff. We build the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to operate in a sustained, continuous improvement culture.

Apprenticeship Levels

We offer the full range of Lean Six Sigma apprenticeships right up to Degree level, meaning you can utilise your Levy to fund training.

The full range of Lean Six Sigma apprenticeships includes:

• Level 2 Lean Manufacturing Operative
• Level 3 Improvement Technician
• Level 4 Improvement Practitioner
• Level 5 Improvement Specialist
• Level 6 Improvement Leader

All of these qualifications are between 12 and 36 months in duration.

How We Deliver Training

Our delivery methods blend Lean and Six Sigma with project and change management principles and tools.

Together, these help us identify and lead the delivery of change across organisational functions and processes.

At levels 5 and 6, Improvement Specialists and Leaders are responsible for leading the deployment of the improvement strategy.

They are also responsible for training others and providing broad and deep technical expertise in advanced and complex Lean and Six Sigma.

Through Lean Six Sigma training bespoke to your business needs, your efficiency and profits can be streamlined.

Business Impact

With the recognised Lean and Six-Sigma training, we apply the new standards to achieve the projects set within your organisation.

We mentor and coach your staff, guiding them through the projects you have determined.

These measures usually focus on improving customer quality, improving delivery to customers, and reducing internal costs.

Critically, if you cannot measure something, you cannot control it. If you cannot control it, you cannot manage it. And if you cannot manage it, you cannot improve it.

Business improvements are key, and our case studies show a significant return on investment for the organisation.

General

Competence management and risk

The purpose of competence management in the rail industry is to control risk.

Safety-critical rail work is regulated by law, and all such personnel must be managed through a competency management system.

Beyond specific qualifications, and on a commercial basis, we can:

• Work with competency management teams to create individual competency plans
• Provide assessment support to meet compliance requirements for safety-critical working

Engineering workshops and health & safety training

We have vast experience in creating bespoke engineering workshops for traction and rolling stock. These workshops help to:

• Standardise engineering practices
• Upskill engineering knowledge
• Develop practical skills for specific maintenance needs

Recruitment and pre-employment training

Our specialist trainers also offer powered equipment training and all aspects of health and safety training across the rail sector.

We can also support the recruitment of new staff through specific pre-employment training. We work alongside recruitment agencies and your HR team to make this happen.

Our training is built around your specified requirements, so that when new staff start, they are productive from the outset.