Rail Skills Academy
The Rail Skills Academy was created by QTS and East Ayrshire Council in 2022 to engage enthusiastic young people, aged 18 to 24 years, to join Scotland’s first Rail Skills Academy and have the opportunity to enter careers in the rail industry.
The Academy is delivered by QTS Training and funded through the East Ayrshire Council Young Person Guarantee programme, together with local authority employability funding, and has been developed to help to combat the skills shortage and lack of diversity in the rail industry. With over 48% of railway workers aged 50 or over and women making up just 16% of the current workforce, action is being taken to create a knowledgeable, diverse and qualified workforce for the future.
This training has already allowed many young people the opportunity to gain recognised railway competencies, including PTS and Track Induction as well as health & safety, small tools and first aid. Participants complete five weeks of classroom training as well as four weeks of on-site work experience, designed to equip them with the understanding of the industry. Successful candidates have now moved on to rewarding roles within the rail industry with a number securing positions at QTS and other companies who have partnered with us on the Rail Skills Academy.
The Rail Skills Academy has developed over the past year and QTS is currently working with East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and Fife Councils to deliver the programme to candidates aged 18 and over. We hope to expand the geographic reach for future Rail Skills Academy programmes.