As part of its ongoing commitment to HS2 and improving connectivity, Morson’s latest cohort of track maintenance apprentices were treated to a tour of the new National College for High Speed Rail (NCHSR) in Doncaster.
Accompanied by CEO, Ged Mason, the 12 apprentices were shown round the state-of-the-art training facility, which features replica track and rolling stock, specialist workshops and advanced digital workrooms.
The tour gave valuable insight into future career opportunities and how their current Level 2 study programme can feed into higher level and advanced apprenticeships.
The aim of the apprenticeship programmes aligns with that of the NCHSR – to help produce the next generation of highly skilled engineers and ensure we have the best labour force to drive forward future infrastructure advancements.
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As part of this commitment, Morson Vital Training (MVT) has become a strategic partner of the NCHSR. This partnership will help Morson to continue upskilling their apprentices onto higher level pathways. The agreement also involves group staff attending the college to deliver workshops, presentations and knowledge sharing, as well as helping to shape the ongoing curriculum.
Matt Leavis, head of UK training for MVT, explains: “HS2 is such an exciting project that’s pushing the boundaries on training and safety standards. The sheer scale of the programme as Europe’s largest will require a number of new skills and greater knowledge surrounding cyber and digital advancements, and it’s a big achievement to be working with the college to deliver exactly this.”
Nicola Johnson, stakeholder engagement manager for the NCHSR, added: “We loved having the Morson apprentices on a tour and helping to inspire them into gaining a successful career in rail.
“Every organisation has its shining stars who we want to help progress further than their Level 2 qualifications, into higher technical routes through to degree level that give them the skills needed to work on huge infrastructure projects like HS2 and develop the best talent worldwide.
“This collaborative approach ensures our apprentices have the skills and experience needed in the workplace and this is testament to the fact that our entire apprenticeship programme has been developed in partnership with industry experts.
“Meeting sector needs also meant thinking outside of the box. Unlike other FE colleges, we recruit cohorts throughout the year – September, January and April – to aid businesses with specific resource shortages and challenges, and we look forward to upskilling future Morson apprentices.”
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