22 February 2002
The Department for Education and Skills has decided that the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, which must normally be completed by the age of 25, will be extended to include rail workers as old as 50. It hopes this will help bosses implement the ten-year Transport Plan. The department and the Learning and Skills Council have each set aside £250,000 for employers to provide training under the scheme.
DfES minister John Healy said the scheme would benefit middle managers as well as train drivers, signallers and tracklayers. He also challenged employers to work together to overcome the industry's recruitment difficulties.
Speaking at a seminar in London on February 14, he said: '[The] serious shortfall in recruitment and training is a significant part of the rail industry's present problems.'
The government was forced to act after it was revealed that only 150 youngsters in the rail industry – which has more than 130,000 employees – had taken a Modern Apprenticeship in the past five years.
PFfeb2002
