Starting on February 5th, National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2024 marks the 17th consecutive year of honouring and promoting apprenticeships. The focus for this year is on “Skills for Life”. It’s a time to highlight the positive influence that apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses, and the entire economy, as well as recognise the value, benefits, and opportunities that apprenticeships offer.
Apprenticeships are ideal for assisting individuals in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge for a fulfilling career – it offers an invaluable opportunity for anyone willing to get stuck in. It also enablers employers to build a workforce equipped with skills for the future.
The popularity of apprenticeships is on the increase, as more people embrace the opportunities they present, with new government statistics showing by just how much. Figures for the 2023/24 academic year, reveal that apprenticeship starts were up by 7.0% to 130,830 compared to 122,290 reported for the same period in the previous year, with under 19s accounting for 32.7% (42,740) of them. Advanced apprenticeships accounted for 43.0% of starts (56,200) whilst higher apprenticeships accounted for 35.3% of starts (46,230). Higher apprenticeships also continue to grow in 2023/24, reflecting the trend in people looking to upskill or change careers, proving that at whatever age, it’s never too late to learn or do something different. And that’s not all – apprenticeship achievements rose by 22.0% to 37,400 compared to 30,650 last year. In short, this is brilliant news all round – apprentices, businesses and the economy as a whole!
One industry that is vital for it to invest in engineering talent and the engineers of tomorrow is rail, as the existing skills gaps are expected to widen further. Apprenticeships will also help fulfil the jobs demand as the sector makes the shift to digitalisation, alongside the Government’s planned major rail overhaul.
CAF Rail UK is one such leading rail firm dedicated to creating opportunities for young individuals and backing the development of engineering and technical abilities. Each year, it takes on students under its Railway Technician Apprentice Advanced Level Apprenticeship scheme – Level 3 (A Level) which involves part college study combined with practical learning on the job at one of CAF’s UK rail depots. Once apprentices complete their training, they join CAF as fully qualified Engineering Technicians.
CAF’s dedication to apprentices is supported by Ford & Stanley Group as CAF’s recruitment partner, which oversees the annual candidate attraction campaign and procedure, aiding CAF in organising an assessment day as well as contributing to the ultimate selection. The campaign always attracts huge interest and is a resounding success, with just up to three apprentices chosen from an often very long list of applicants.
As many businesses like CAF involved in this way can attest, it is extremely rewarding to support the learning journey of apprentices. For the rail industry, it’s paramount for companies to develop the talent needed to serve tomorrow’s railway and CAF sees apprenticeships as being a brilliant way to engage young people and support their growth and development. Its investment in future talent highlights the importance of arming youth with the skills to transition to the labour market and to actively engage in their communities.
And with the digitalisation shift increasingly calling for agile and adaptable skill sets, apprenticeships provide so much opportunity for any young person considering their first career move in rail. By giving apprentices the right tools, it not only offers them access to a prosperous future, but it also means attracting the right talent to ensure the industry – or any industry, for that matter – can fully realise the potential of ground-breaking technology to improve efficiencies.
Want to attract the brightest talent for the future of your operations? Or are you interested in a rail apprenticeship to set you on track for a rewarding career with exciting prospects?
Give us a call now on 01332 344 443.
