Train maintenance work at Stoke Gifford

Aug 31, 2017 10:28 BST

Hitachi Rail doubling number of traineesin UK to over 100

• New national apprenticeship and graduate engineeringprogrammes launched

• Over 100 trainees to build and maintain pioneering new trains

• Hitachi on-track to employ 2,000 people in the UK as it eyes upnew contract wins

Hitachi Rail, one of the largest builder and maintainer of trains in the UK, haslaunched a new national apprentice and graduate programme.

The company already employs 54 apprentices to build trains at itsmanufacturing site at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The new intake willsee 56 trainees, graduates and apprentices, join over the next two years atsites across the UK, including newly built depots.

By 2020, Hitachi Rail will have 281 trains running on some of the UK’sbusiest intercity and commuter routes. The first new trains are due on theGreat Western main line from this autumn as part of the government-led£5.7bn Intercity Express Programme, followed by new trains for the EastCoast main line from 2018.

New trainees to work on pioneering new trains

The 100 trainees to work on Hitachi’s new trains include both apprenticesand graduate engineers.

Hitachi has begun to recruit 46 new apprentices to work at its manufacturingand maintenance sites. The first wave of 16 new starters begins theirapprenticeships today.

The new national apprenticeship programme follows the successfulrecruitment of 54 train manufacturing apprentices currently at NewtonAycliffe. A new wave of apprentices at the manufacturing facility in the NorthEast will join a 1,000 strong workforce building intercity and commutertrains.

Apprentices will also be employed at train maintenance depots across theUK, including Ashford, Stoke Gifford (Bristol), Doncaster and West London.Hitachi has recently invested over £250million in building a new network ofdepots as part of delivering the Government’s Intercity Express Programme.Apprentices will learn how to inspect and ready trains for passenger serviceusing the latest industry technology.

The level 3 apprenticeships will last up to three years and be administratedby the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR). Hitachi’s apprenticeshipprogramme is part of a new qualification standard developed by the

“Trailblazer group”, in which companies are allowed to set the skills andtraining, as well as the assessment criteria of the qualification.

A new intake of 10 graduates will also join Hitachi Rail’s trainee programme.Graduate engineers will rotate around sites in the UK. They will also workwith colleagues in Japan on train designs as well as bringing engineeringexpertise to depots.

Trainees will be part of a global organisation and have the opportunity towork on new projects such as innovative digital technology.

Building a new generation of railway engineers and technicians

The trainee programmes are part of Hitachi’s wider plans to create a newgeneration of railway engineers and technicians. Hitachi aims to have at least5% of its workforce in an entry level training scheme, such as anapprenticeship or graduate programme.

The company has already co-founded a new university technical college inthe North East, UTC South Durham, which opened last year. Hitachi’s NewtonAycliffe site, based at the same business park as the college, works closelywith the students on engineering projects.

Hitachi Rail in the UK will soon employ over 2,000 people across 15locations. To ensure the delivery of current and future rail projects, Hitachi isbuilding a long-term workforce with a rich array of engineering andmanufacturing skills.

Karen Boswell OBE, Managing Director of Hitachi Rail Europe, said:

“We are creating a lasting legacy in the UK with new trains, new facilities andmost importantly, a new generation to drive the rail industry forward.

“If our country’s rail industry is to succeed we must promote technical skillsto young people. By closing the UK’s engineering skills gap we can improvepassenger experiences with new and better rail services.

“I believe that we are on the cusp of a new era for UK rail with record levelsof investment and exciting projects. That is why we must start planning forthe future and build a truly world leading workforce.”

Skills Minister John Hayes MP said:

“Having championed vocational skills and apprenticeships as both a Ministerand MP, I am delighted Hitachi Rail has launched a new national apprenticeand graduate programme. Investing in skills will help Hitachi and those theytrain to prosper. For all of us, creating a high skilled workforce is vital tobuilding productive capacity and so help build Britain’s future.

“The work my department is now doing to map the needs of the transportsector shows our country needs 35,000 apprenticeship starters in roads andrail projects to 2022 and we are on track to meet that need.”

About Hitachi Rail Europe Ltd.

Hitachi Rail Europe (HRE) is a global transport specialist with over 100 yearsof experience building pioneering trains, offering quality maintenance anddeveloping innovative new technology. As a leader in rail we’re improvingtransport for passengers, connecting communities and helping to boost theUK’s economy.

Having delivered the hugely popular Javelin HS1 fleet in advance of the 2012London Games, Hitachi is delivering major orders for new trains, with 281due to be in service by 2021. The first wave of new trains is being made atour purpose-built factory in County Durham and will enter passenger servicein 2017 as part of the UK Government’s £5.7bn Intercity Express Programme.With a proud reputation for innovation, Hitachi is at the forefront of usingnew digital technology to enhance passenger experience and enrich Britain’srailway’s heritage. Hitachi rail is growing rapidly and we’ll soon by more than2,000 strong, based at 15 locations across the UK.

For more information about the company, please visit: www.Hitachirail-eu.com .

Contacts

Nadia Alves-PiresPress ContactHead of External Relations & Communication – Signalling &Turnkey EMEA nadia.alves-pires@hitachirail.com

Lane Cigna Press ContactHead of External Relations & Communication – Signalling &Turnkey Americas lane.cigna@hitachirail.com

Nina Harding Press ContactCommunications Manager – UKnina.harding@hitachirail.com+44 7753 453 914

http://www.hitachirail-eu.com/http://www.hitachirail-eu.com/mailto:nadia.alves-pires@hitachirail.commailto:lane.cigna@hitachirail.commailto:nina.harding@hitachirail.comtel:+44 7753 453 914

Adam LovePress ContactHead of External Communications & Public Affairs – UKAdam.Love@hitachirail.com+44 7860 273 317

Paola LimatolaPress ContactPress Office & Media, Brand Image Referent – Rolling Stock paola.limatola@hitachirail.com

Doug McIlroyPress ContactCommunications Manager – UKDouglas.McIlroy@hitachirail.com+44 7548 238 140

Anne RichardsonPress ContactHead of External Relations & Communication – Signalling &Turnkey Asia PacificAnne.Richardson@hitachirail.com

Francesca Sarnataro Press ContactGlobal Referent for Communication Contents and MediaRelationsfrancesca.sarnataro@hitachirail.com+39 3351 04 7220

mailto:Adam.Love@hitachirail.comtel:+44 7860 273 317mailto:paola.limatola@hitachirail.commailto:Douglas.McIlroy@hitachirail.comtel:+44 7548 238 140mailto:Anne.Richardson@hitachirail.commailto:francesca.sarnataro@hitachirail.comtel:+39 3351 04 7220