QTS Rail Skills Academy recognised for training excellence

April 2023

The QTS Rail Skills Academy was highlighted at the Spotlight Awards in London recently.

The Academy, which provides comprehensive training for those looking to enter the railway, took home the award in the Training for Excellence category, beating out stiff competition.

Now in its third cohort, the Skills Academy is run by QTS Training in partnership with East Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council and has helped dozens of young people gain qualifications to kickstart their career and enter the railway. In the most recent course, the Academy has been opened to more mature applicants looking for a new career, thanks to work with South Ayrshire Council.

QTS Training MD, Lorna Gibson, said of the achievement:

“The QTS Training team is delighted with the win. We are very proud of the Rail Skills Academy and it is fantastic to see it achieve the recognition of this award.

“The Academy was launched in June 2022 and has created an excellent opportunity for young people, from a diverse range of backgrounds, to receive the training and experience required to join our industry and to start a career journey that they otherwise would not have been able to achieve. The first two programmes brought an additional 20 people into the rail industry, who are now thriving in their careers, and the third programme is currently running, with plans for further future programmes in place.

“We are of course so pleased to have won the training excellence award however the real reward is seeing the delight on the trainees faces when they complete the programme and take up employment in the industry!”

Workforce Development Coordinator Jane McFadzean added:

“This award means so much, it was a delight to attend the event and to come away with a win is even better. We all put a lot of work into making sure the Skills Academy runs smoothly and that the participants get the most out of it.

“We hope to continue to expand the programme and help build the next generation of railway operatives!”