Accross transforms disused land into rail training opportunity

By Scott Dawson Advertising

07 Dec 2022

A new and unique opportunity to get unemployed adults into well-paid rail careers is coming to Accrington and Rossendale College.

Accrington and Rossendale College, which received an Outstanding rating from its latest Ofsted inspection, is offering a unique and exciting new rail maintenance and repair course after transforming disused land into a functional and real-to-life rail track.

The Railway Maintenance Programme (the first of its kind in Lancashire) is an eight-week course, which runs Monday to Friday and is aimed at fast-tracking unemployed adults aged 19+ into well-paid, skilled careers for life within the rail industry.

Based at Accrington & Rossendale College, the brand new railway track is a unique learning tool - a first of its kind for the area. Classroom learning will also be vital to the course, and is set to take place at Lancashire Adult Learning, Brierfield.

Those enrolling on the course will learn the fundamentals of rail track maintenance needed to obtain a successful career on the rail, be introduced to the typical operations of rail, as well as developing an extensive skill set to carry out various roles within the rail industry.

The practical element of the programme will see learners visit a specially designed railway maintenance track, based at Accrington & Rossendale College, where they will partake in a number of activities including changing sleepers and repairing the railway track.

Also included in the course is a full set of Network Rail approved PPE, a Network Rail approved medical, basic hand tools training, first aid and manual handling, plus much more.

Tom Gee, head of curriculum for employability, volunteering and skills, said: “This is the fastest opportunity for learners who are 18-19+ to move from unemployment into a skilled profession.

“There’s a six-week NVQ which takes in all the theory and the practical, before learners move onto the Personal Track Safety (PTS) and Track Induction Course (TIC) in order to get their sentinel card which allows them to work as a blue hat in the railway industry.

“We have been running the programme for a year now and the track site which we have been using is in Liverpool. From a sustainability and efficiency point of view and also with Accrington being the home of Accrington NORI, it is good to have the facility here in Accrington for people in the local vicinity to use and to upskill.

“In the last year we have had successful learners moving into employment with a range of companies from McGinleys, to Vital Rail and DF Brickwork and we are hoping to continue that, with the majority of the jobs being on the West Line Coast from Crewe through to Carlisle and on the TransPennine from Leeds to Manchester.”

Accrington & Rossendale College are recruiting now for their January intake. To apply, call: 01254 354423 or email: [email protected]

Mr Gee, added: “It’s a real opportunity for people who have had a negative experience in education and employment. It provides a great chance for them to get into well paid employment. Not everyone wants to work inside, lots of people want to work outdoors and this is the environment for them.

“The average starting salary positions for the labour roles is £12-£15 per hour. There are a number of routes and opportunities open in the industry as they become more proficient and the more qualifications you get while in the industry, that can increase to £20-£30 per hour within a couple of years.

To learn more about Accrington & Rossendale College, part of the Nelson and Colne College Group, on their website: https://www.accross.ac.uk/

Latest news

1

Double delight for Vincents two newest solicitors Beth Laws and Yasmine Dragan at Vincents Solicitors’ office in Winckley Square Preston

Double delight for Vincents two newest solicitors

14 Feb 2025

2

Bowker Motor Group celebrates record number of apprentices in 40 year history Bowker Preston BMW Apprentices.png.png

Bowker Motor Group celebrates record number of apprentices in 40 year history

13 Feb 2025

3

FWP transforms Health-Based Places of Safety for NHS trust One of the Tameside suites

FWP transforms Health-Based Places of Safety for NHS trust

13 Feb 2025

4

Pleasure Beach partners with industry giant Coca-Cola Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Pleasure Beach partners with industry giant Coca-Cola

13 Feb 2025

5

Prestigious honour given to Mark Birchall at Michelin Guide Awards Mark Birchall Courtesy Michelin

Prestigious honour given to Mark Birchall at Michelin Guide Awards

12 Feb 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

Understanding & Preventing Sexual Harassment - Creating Safe & Respectful Workplaces
Supporting Women's Health in Your Teams A Path to Success-3.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2025

Understanding & Preventing Sexual Harassment - Creating Safe & Respectful Workplaces

*, Online, *

12:30 - 13:30

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Women's Health champion training
Supporting Women's Health in Your Teams A Path to Success-6.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Women's Health champion training

*, Online, *

10:00 - 16:00

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work Course - In Person
RKMS ACADEMY LOGO - BLACK AND ORANGE.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work Course - In Person

RKMS Group , Blackpool, FY42DP

09:30 - 17:00

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire
PM and M event
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Employment Law, Tax and Payroll Update - East Lancashire

Accrington Stanley Football Club, Accrington, BB5 5BX

08:00 - 10:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February
Freelancer Meet-Up Feb.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
26 Feb 2025 - 26 Feb 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: February

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

StackedX with PM+M and CFO Techstack
LBV Hub Seminars
27 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025

StackedX with PM+M and CFO Techstack

Red Hall Hotel, Bury, BL9 5NA

08:00 - 10:00

Kickstart Networking - Crazy Golf at Level, Preston
Kickstart Crazy Golf.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
27 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025

Kickstart Networking - Crazy Golf at Level, Preston

Level, Preston, PR1 1HT

16:00 - 18:00

Post Employee Ownership Trust: What's the story?
LBV image.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Mar 2025 - 04 Mar 2025

Post Employee Ownership Trust: What's the story?

Brabners, Preston, PR5 6AW

11:00 - 12:30

North West (Preston) Finance Leaders Networking Event
MHA-BTI Logo_black (002).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
05 Mar 2025

North West (Preston) Finance Leaders Networking Event

Farington Lodge Hotel, Stanifield Lane Farington, Preston, PR25 4QR

08:00 - 10:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin