Press Release
July 22, 2015
Rail Academy deal guarantees jobs for students
Students at the North East's first specialist Rail Academy have the chance of guaranteed jobs thanks to a new partnership with employer Infra Safety Services (ISS) Labour Ltd.
Less than a year after the Rail Academy opened in Gateshead offering specialist training to young people, it has signed a deal that will see ten students obtain paid work experience at ISS Labour Ltd every year - with five of them permanently employed after 12 months.
The partnership comes after the first cohort of students were honoured for their hard work at an awards ceremony earlier this month - which was supported by a number of key businesses from around the region.
The Rail Academy, operated by Newcastle College, opened in September last year to help secure the future of rail engineering in the region.
The first of its kind in the country, it is a regional hub for training and development in railway engineering and is designed to respond to the Government's ambitious plans to create a world-class rail network.
Simon Higgens, Chief Executive of ISS Labour Ltd, which provides a wide range of railway site services, including overhead line electrification, welding, labour supply and site lighting, said the company was preparing for growth in the industry, both within the Network Rail domestic programme and with major projects, such as HS2, the National Electrification Programme and the Northern Hub works in and around Manchester.
He said: "We have been really impressed with the Rail Academy because it has got so far and to such a high standard extremely quickly. There is nothing else like it, as yet, in the country.
"There is a huge skills gap in the rail industry at a time when there is going to be enormous growth and we don't have sufficient numbers of skilled people to carry out all of the work required.
"When I came to look around the Rail Academy I was really impressed with the students' work ethic, their attitude and the standards they were working to. I felt we had so much in common.
"We are delighted to be able to offer some students this opportunity. It's an excellent industry to build a career in, so we want to help as many young people as possible to reach their potential."
The ten students who have been chosen to obtain paid work experience at ISS Labour Ltd for the next year are Liam Barrass, Aaron Richardson, Paul Cross, Simon Davenport, Ben Shilling, Robert Hall, Nathan O'Connell, Alex Larke, Booncherd Chaikaud and Jason Thompson.
At the end of the year's trial, at least five of them will be taken on permanently.
Marc McPake, the Academy's Head of Rail, said the partnership was a great incentive for the students.
"The Rail Academy has a natural affinity with Simon and the ethos at ISS Labour Ltd, so it's really exciting that we can form this partnership and work closely together.
"We will work with ISS Labour Ltd and its current workforce to offer new training courses and qualifications, while the company will offer a number of our students vital work experience. That alone will provide a huge boost to the careers of our students.
"However, knowing that five students every year will be offered employment is amazing. What a great opportunity."
Student Liam Barrass, 23, from Wallsend, is one of the students to have been offered the work experience.
The former doorman said: "I'm really excited to have been given the opportunity to work at ISS Labour. I will give it my all because I would obviously love the chance to work for the company permanently.
"The Rail Academy has been brilliant for me. It has changed my life. I want to progress with my qualifications as far as I can."
Ends
Picture captions:
Engineering a career:Some of the students who have been chosen to work with ISS Labour Ltd during the next year are pictured with Marc McPake (centre left) and Simon Higgens (centre right) in the Rail Academy workshop.
For more information, contact:
Karen Westcott, DTW, 01287 610404 or 07545 210067
Caroline Anderson, NCG, 0191 200 4872