This National Apprenticeship Week we’re celebrating the broad range of exciting apprenticeship opportunities available across the railway. Let’s take a look at how our apprenticeship in the Property team works.
More than just an education
We’ve broadened our popular apprenticeship scheme, with a five-year apprenticeship programme now running in our Property team for the first year.
This programme has two apprentices, Felix and Gabrielle, who joined us in September 2024.
Our apprentices get more than just an education – they get expert training, earn while they learn and develop skills for life. And the Property apprenticeship is no different. Each apprentice spends four days working with us and one day a week at university completing their real estate degree.
Gabrielle said: “One of the highlights has been simultaneously gaining experience through the workplace and studying for my degree, which go hand in hand with one another.”
Support and guidance throughout
The work and experience Felix and Gabrielle build up allows them to sit their Chartered Surveyor exams at the end of the programme. We’ve also given them a mentor who will support and guide them throughout.
Plus, Felix and Gabrielle will benefit from the chance to work across several divisions of Network Rail Property. The appetite for schemes like these is huge so the selection process for the opportunity was highly competitive – over 500 people applied for two available places.
Felix said: “My apprenticeship at Network Rail has really helped to kickstart my career in the property sector. It’s been really exciting working on projects that impact the thousands of people using railway stations across the country every day.”
The next generation of railway workers
There’s been real progression in our sector. In the last academic school year about a quarter of total apprenticeships in England were in the construction, planning and the built environment sector.
Full-time university isn’t for everyone, and apprenticeships offer people from all social backgrounds another route to gain a professional qualification. We’re proud to support individuals build successful careers at Network Rail.
Iain Corker, head of Asset Management (Retail) at Network Rail Property, said: “It is fantastic to see an increase in businesses and organisations offering apprenticeship schemes through dedicated partnerships with colleges and universities
“These schemes have a number of benefits that positively affect both individuals and employers, and in particular for organisations it’s a great way to attract and build a pipeline of diverse new talent to join the real estate industry.”
