July 15th marks World Youth Skills Day, a global reminder of how essential it is to equip young people with the tools to shape the future through the provision of quality education, training and skills.
Aligning with this theme and as part of its introduction to its Apprenticeship Programme, youth skilling advocate CAF Rail UK recently held an Apprenticeship Day at its Gogar Tram Depot in Edinburgh, where they joined the CAF team and learnt how to carry out maintenance and fault finding on its state-of-the-art fleet of trams. A ‘full house’ of 12 young trainees got the opportunity to demonstrate their problem solving, engineering and fault-finding skills and experience. Out of all the individuals who had expressed initial interest in joining, everyone turned up, all keen to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in – fantastic result!
The day consisted of a site tour, several skills-based ‘station’ tests which involved tasks including connecting wire and labelling tools, as well as English and Maths aptitude tests, before undergoing an interview with CAF team members.
This new national initiative by CAF is aimed at giving young people a ‘taster’ of its apprenticeship programme via assessment open days taking place at various UK locations across the coming months. Up for grabs are two places on a 4-year apprenticeship which involves part study at Mid Lothian college as well as practical learning on the job at Gogar depot.
Successful candidates will become qualified technicians in an electrical, mechanical or dual skilled capacity. On successful completion of the apprenticeship, they will have the opportunity to take on a role as a preventive, corrective or modification technician in the Edinburgh Tram Depot or on one of CAF’s other rolling stock projects.
“CAF offers the chance to develop a rewarding career in the rail industry and the Apprentice Day creates a door to that opportunity. The theme for this year’s World Youth Skills Day is skilling teachers, trainers and youth for a transformative future, something that fits in really well with CAF’s ethos,” according to Ford & Stanley’s Senior Key Account Consultant Rebecca Lee.
She continues: “Digitisation is increasingly calling for agile and adaptable skill sets, and the rail industry is a prime example of this as it undergoes complete digital transformation. This provides so much opportunity for any young person considering their first career move in rail, so by giving them the right tools we’re not only offering them access to a prosperous future, but it also means we retain the right talent to ensure we can fully realise the potential of all this technology to improve efficiencies as well as enhance the passenger experience.”
CAF’s investment in tomorrow’s talent highlights the importance of arming youth with the skills to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their communities. It’s also about being a valued member of the team and supported to be your best during your career, something that the CAF community wholeheartedly embraces thanks to Ford & Stanley’s One Million Better Workdays initiative.
F&S’s mission is to create one million better workdays for clients such as CAF through facilitating great recruitment, developing effective leaders and providing occupational mental fitness & performance coaching for teams and individuals.
To find out more about One Million Better Workdays and how the Ford & Stanley team can make a real difference for both your business and your team, give us a call on 01332 344 443.
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