Rail Engineering Technician Apprenticeship
NORTHERN TRAINS LTD
Newcastle, NE6 2XT
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 23 February)
Posted on 7 February 2025
Contents
Summary
Northern are recruiting for Rail Engineering Apprentices to learn how to fault find, fix, repair and maintain our fleet of trains. You will learn on the job and in a classroom environment and on successful completion will gain a qualification to become a skilled engineer.
- Wage
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£19,231 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£19,231 and rising each year of the apprenticeship.
- Training course
- Rail engineering technician (level 3)
- Hours
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At the start, whilst learning at college, it will be Mon- Fri (hours tbc) and at TrainCare Centre. Once competent, you will be working shifts, including weekends and evenings, details of which will be provided.
35 hours a week
- Possible start date
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Monday 8 September
- Duration
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3 years
- Positions available
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4
Work
As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.
What you’ll do at work
- Learning and Growing: Across our three-year apprenticeship program, you’ll earn while you learn; gaining essential skills in rail engineering. You’ll work towards a Level 3 qualification while getting hands-on experience at our TrainCare Centres.
- Working as Part of a Team: You’ll collaborate with experienced engineers and trainers who are committed to helping you succeed. Together, you’ll tackle engineering challenges and ensure our trains are always ready for service.
- Solving Real Problems: You’ll learn to figure out how things work and will end up loving the challenges. You’ll apply your problem-solving skills to maintain and improve our fleet.
- Prioritising Safety: Safety is our top priority. You’ll begin to adapt your thinking to follow industry protocols and ensure all maintenance is carried out in a safe manner; contributing to a secure working environment for everyone.
Where you’ll work
Heaton TrainCare Centre
Off Benfield Road
Newcastle
NE6 2XT
Training
An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.
College or training organisation
MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE
Your training course
Rail engineering technician (level 3)
Equal to A level
Course contents
Your training plan
Your Journey Over Three Years:
Year One: You’ll live and study at Myerscough College in Preston (Accommodation, Food and Rail travel included), focusing on your Level 2 Performance in Engineering and Level 3 Diploma in Rail Engineering. While at college, you’ll learn the fundamentals in a classroom and workshop setting and gain practical experience at your assigned TrainCare Centre during breaks.
Year Two: You’ll continue working alongside your dedicated team at the TrainCare Centre, applying what you've learnt in a hands-on environment. This year includes two fortnightly visits to the National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) in Northampton, where you’ll complete specialist units towards your Level 3 Diploma.
Year Three: Building on your knowledge and experience, you’ll create a portfolio of evidence to complete your Level 3 qualification and prepare for your End Point Assessment. You’ll continue to work closely with your team, deepening your practical skills in real-world scenarios.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- English (grade A*-C OR 9-5)
- Maths (grade A*-C OR 9-5)
- OTHER x 2 (grade A*-C OR 9-5)
- Science (grade A*-C OR 9-5)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Number skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
Other requirements
This role will involve working shifts once competent in elements of the role, working in a team and ensuring a safe working environment. Accommodation will be provided through Northern in your first two years when at Myerscough College, Preston. You will need to live within 60 minutes of the TrainCare Centre as it's a safety critical role.
About this company
At Northern, we play a vital role across the North by providing a reliable and friendly train service that helps thousands of people to go do their thing. That's over 2,000 services every day, travelling to over 500 destinations. We're here to make a positive impact for the North and that means building a different kind of workplace. One that values individuality and celebrates differences. Somewhere we can work together, have fun, and do whatever it takes to make our customers’ lives easier. A place that encourages everyone to learn, grow and develop so we can all be our best every single day.
https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/corporate/careers (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Free Travel on Northern services. 75% discount on other Train Providers leisure services*. Pension Scheme. Maternity and Paternity Benefits. Full uniform.
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
- Starting as a Rail Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will have the opportunity to follow a range of different career paths
- Once qualified, you can apply to work within Northern, perhaps within the production teams employed as a Maintenance Engineer with potential to then move on to be a Team Leader or Technical Engineer. Alternatively, you could move around - from production to safety for example
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NORTHERN TRAINS LTD
Kirsty Davison
Kirsty.Davison@northernrailway.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000301965.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 23 February)
When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
Company’s application instructions
Please apply through our Northern - Careers website by Sunday 23rd February (please check your location as there are 5 depots across the North of England). We have a few shortlisting phases that you will be invited to if successful at each stage: - Online Testing - Assessment Day - Interview at Depot Your application is an opportunity to tell us why you would be a great apprentice so please take the time to include all the information required and showcase your skills.