QTS Rail Skills Academy Celebration Event

The QTS Rails Skills Academy is the first of its kind and was launched in May 2022 following a successful bid in response to a tender opportunity by the East Ayrshire Young Persons Guarantee project. This has provided the opportunity to create a programme to help give young people the chance to start upon a career path within the rail industry whilst simultaneously working to bridge the skills gap within the industry. 

The Academy is a nine-week programme and includes five weeks of classroom training where the young people gain recognised competencies in railway safety, including PTS and Track Induction as well as health & safety, small tools and first aid together with employability skills. Following the initial five weeks training, the participants undertake four weeks of on-site work experience to equip them with a good understanding of the rail industry and the various roles that are available.  

Anyone aged 18-24 who lives within the East Ayrshire area is welcome to apply with no formal training or experience required. QTS is currently working with other areas in Ayrshire to hopefully open up the Academy to a wider group. 

The nine-week programme culminated in a celebration event with a number of rail industry employers joining the QTS team to meet the participants and discuss employment opportunities with them. 

The first cohort of young people have now successfully completed the Rail Skills Academy and are ready to move on to jobs within the industry.  

One of the Skills Academy graduates, Jamie Fulton, said:  

“The Rail Skills Academy has been an incredible opportunity to be able to enter the railway. The skills I’ve learned along the way will stay with me throughout my career. The opportunities the academy gives you are endless and I’m glad to have been a part of it.” 

Jamie has now moved into a role with the civils department within QTS, one of five of the first cohort of Skills Academy Graduates being offered positions with the company.  

Trainees attending the Rail Skills Academy receive a £55 per week training allowance, together with lunch subsistence. Transport is also arranged where required to assist with travel to the QTS HQ at Drumclog, Lanarkshire. 

For more information on future Skills Academy programmes contact janemcfadzean@qtsgroup.com and follow QTS Training on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.