Talyllyn Railway, a narrow gauge heritage line in Wales, has hired its first ever apprentice.
Oscar Hutchinson, of Abergynolwyn, has been taken on as an apprentice permanent way technician after finishing his exams at school.
He is no stranger to the railway, having worked one day a week for the past two years under a work placement with Careers Wales.
Oscar said: “I’m so grateful to Careers Wales for setting up my work placement and for giving me so much help and advice. After being excluded from school, I really needed the direction and structure that they gave me; just to be told where I needed to be and when.
“I love working at Talyllyn Railway. I’m a really hands-on person and I love being outdoors, so working on the tracks suits me so much better than being in school. I can’t wait to start a proper apprenticeship in September.”
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Talyllyn Railway engineering manager Chris Smith added: “Oscar has been a great asset during his placement with us, and purely based on his own merits we have been delighted to be able to offer him a 3 year apprenticeship on the Railway.
“Oscar will be attending Dolgellau College from September undertaking a Level 2 course in Performing Engineering Operations, and then go onto a more railway focussed program.”
Careers Wales’ Trac 11-24 scheme is a Welsh Government scheme which aims to help improve the career and life prospects of 11-24 year olds in North Wales who are at risk of disengaging and falling out of education and training.
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