The Rail, Engineering, Energy, Renewables, Power Blog

A recent report published by the Lloyds Register suggests that the UK rail industry is seen as an unattractive career path for young jobhunters and graduates.

The report surveyed 220 members of IMechE and found that rail was neglected in favour of other “sexier” engineering industries.

John Stansfeld, transportation director at Lloyd’s Register stated “Young people are attracted to professions that do not appear to restrict choice and variety so we need to demonstrate how a career in the railways offers a solid technical grounding with plenty of opportunities to follow specialist interests later as their experience develops”. With a number of big infrastructure projects such as Crossrail and high-speed train links from London to Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham still going ahead, opportunities in the rail industry are in abundance and the work must start now for build and train future engineering talent.

The shortage of skilled railway engineers has started to be addressed in the UK with Vince Cable, the business secretary, giving government backing to a new National Skills Academy for Rail Engineering (Nsare) which is expected to commence operations this year. 

Similarly, the UK Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy (TUCA) has just opened its doors. Crossrail and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills via the Skills Funding Agency have invested up to £12.5m in the academy, which will train at least 3,500 people to work on Crossrail.

These ventures alongside associations such as Young Railway Professionals are actively addressing the issues and it’s great to see companies taking an active interest as both the UK and overseas rail markets expand rapidly.

What do you think? Is the UK rail industry stuck in the past? What incentives can be put in place?

Leave your thoughts below

To read the full article and the findings. Visit http://www.theengineer.co.uk/sectors/rail-and-marine/news/railway-sector-not-attractive-enough-for-young-engineers/1012445.article

Tags: Crossrail, High speed, High Speed Rail, is rail attractive?, rail careers, rail industry careers

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 at 8:42 am and is filed under Rail. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.