________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Rail
This is a concerning anecdote , and with the City & Guilds and NSAR research showing lower numbers of women , young adults , and people from BAME backgrounds would consider a rail career , it ’ s a clear area of focus .
Create clear career paths
We also identified the critical need for a clear path for people to enter the rail industry . It ’ s one thing to attract the talent , the real test is retaining that talent . For us , it is about working closely with our people and supporting them on their career development .
There is also a need to showcase the sheer variety of careers available in rail . Yes , there are many exciting engineering roles , but looking beyond this there ’ s legal , finance , marketing , design - a huge variety to attract people to our industry .
Tap into the wider agenda
To attract the next generation of rail talent , we need to showcase the important role the rail sector plays in the UK . This could include shining a spotlight on its contribution to the green agenda . We are talking to a much more climate-aware generation that wants to work in industries that will have a real impact on reducing emissions .
Rail freight has always provided a low-carbon alternative to road transport . Its strong environmental performance has already helped to reduce UK carbon emissions by up to 7.7 million tons every year . With the introduction and rapid development of greener technologies , from extended electrification projects and battery storage , to fuel cells and hydrogen powered trains , this number will keep increasing .
Engage the wider workforce
It is crucial that senior leadership actively encourages the full workforce to champion the rail sector and create positive workplace cultures .
As a former apprentice myself , nurturing the next generation of talent is something that I personally feel strongly about and our apprenticeship scheme is one of my proudest achievements .
That is why we want to make every effort to persuade the next generation , mid-career switchers and anyone with transferable skills , that a career in the rail sector will provide them with the pride and career fulfilment they seek - only then will we be able to address the looming skills crisis .
Planning for the future
The rail industry faces a major challenge when it comes to bridging the skills gap to enable it to deliver the infrastructure that is needed . Companies across the supply chain all have a part to play in promoting the sector as exciting and dynamic . And , crucially , one that promises huge variety and the opportunity to develop pioneering technologies and processes that can make a real difference . ■
For a list of the sources used in this article , please contact the editor .
Nick Andrew www . cwelimited . com
Nick Andrew is Managing Director at CWE Ltd . Nick has 30 plus years ’ engineering experience including in rail , having started his career as an apprentice . CWE Ltd has been providing specialist , highquality engineering solutions since 1966 . It provides expert component repair , refurbishment and replacement quickly and on budget .
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