Job: IRC2310199	
		


Location
Manchester, GB
Department Name
North West & Central Region - Capital Delivery
About Network Rail
Key Information

Role: Level 6 Rail and Rail Systems Engineering Apprenticeship.

Locations: Manchester and Crewe

We have 3 opportunities available across Civil and Track engineering.

University award: BEng (Honours) Railway Engineering

Salary: £24,500 per annum. Course fees funded by Network Rail

Contract Type: Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only.

Start date: September 2025

Office Requirement: Hybrid with an expectation of a minimum of 3 days per week working from a Network Rail office.

Entry Requirements: 112 UCAS points (including a Mathematics-based subject) plus GCSE (or equivalent) with Mathematics and English at grade C or grade 4, or above.

Selection Process: If selected, the next stage of the process will be a request for you to submit a video response to several questions (motivational and role specific). You will be contacted after the closing date if you are required to complete this stage. The final stage of the recruitment process will be an in-person Assessment Centre.

Assessment Centre: Monday 28 April 2025 in Manchester.

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel this includes off peak and super off-peak tickets. Employees will also be entitled to 75% discount on season tickets.

Network Rail Benefits – To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

Join Network Rail - Where People and Connections Matter

At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team - you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. Click here to learn more.

We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.


You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consist of three routes – North West, Central and West Coast South – and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services.


If you're ready to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Capital Delivery

Our Capital Delivery team delivers rail infrastructure improvements across the North West and Central Region.

The projects we deliver address the rising demand for rail in a number of ways including:

·         increasing capacity to accommodate higher passenger numbers and more frequent freight movements.

·         improvements and reliability of track to enable increases in train speed and subsequent shorter journey times.

·         renewal of assets and infrastructure to keep the network reliable and people and goods moving.

·         redevelopment of stations to improve the passenger experience.

 

The expertise and experience of the team members that make up Capital Delivery mean that they can execute a wide range of projects from fast paced and high volume to politically sensitive and complex.

Christmas and New Year 2024 was a busy period for us, watch this video to see some of the amazing work carried out over the last festive period:

https://vimeo.com/1054526491/94ca4f4677

Brief Description
Understanding Engineering Matters

If finding a unique opportunity to understand the different aspects of engineering matters to you, you matter to us.

Our Engineering Apprenticeship is created to enhance learning and growth through a combination of study and on-the-job learning. At no additional cost, you will complete a BEng Hons degree in Railway Engineering along with the opportunity to apply your learning in the real world and become a fully qualified Project Engineer.

Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll be guided by Senior Engineering leaders who will help you to grow and develop. You’ll also get the opportunity to work independently as well as within a team while learning how to thrive in high pressured environments.

What you’ll be doing

This apprenticeship is an exciting one as it offers the opportunity to work with Engineers from across multiple disciplines such as: Signalling, Telecoms, Civils, E&P (Electrification & Plant) and Buildings. In addition, we’ll teach you how to lead people and teams as well as helping create a safe and sustainable environment for everyone.

There’s plenty of learning in this scheme, you will be taught the core knowledge, skills and behaviour needed to get you on the path to achieving your Incorporated Engineer (IEng) qualification.

To widen your skillset in as many areas as possible, you’ll participate in rotations across several different functions. There are academic courses along with internal training throughout so you’ll gain the appropriate skills for a career with Network Rail.

What you’ll get out of it

You’ll complete the Level 6 Rail and Rail Systems Engineering Apprenticeship (Integrated Degree). The apprenticeship standard aligns with the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) at Incorporated Engineering (IEng) level. It is recognised as a bachelor’s degree level.

The opportunities it leads to

We strive to have the best in-house opportunities rewarding employees of all levels with exciting career progression. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, typically you may apply for the below positions within Network Rail:

Assistant Design Engineer: Produce designs and specifications supporting the engineering development of allocated proposals.

Assistant Project Engineer: Supporting Project Engineers in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Assistant Construction Manager: Monitor contractors’ on-site activities as Network Rail’s representative so that their site activities are conducted in a safe and efficient manner with minimum impact on the environment and operational railway, and whether the work is of a high standard and complies with the relevant specifications and latest practices.

Study support: Receive generous support for your studies while undertaking a minimum of 20% of your working time at university. Network Rail cover all costs associated with travel and accommodation during study blocks.

About the role (External)
The ideal candidate:

As a Rail Engineering apprentice, you are offered the chance to gain a wide range of experiences across all aspects of engineering. Specifically, we are looking for individuals with a passion for Buildings & Civils engineering, working on our extensive repair, renewal and major enhancements project across the region involving buildings, stations, bridges, tunnels and earthwork assets;  or track engineering, working on our extensive renewal, upgrade and major enhancement projects across the region involving track assets.

The ideal candidate is a proactive learner, always eager to seek new opportunities and expand their skill set. They demonstrate a strong initiative to stay updated with industry trends and continuously pursue personal and professional growth.

With strong interpersonal skills, they excel in building and maintaining positive relationships, collaborating effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders. Their ability to communicate clearly and work cohesively within teams will be key to their success in the role.

Additionally, the candidate should have the ability to quickly absorb and apply new information. They can easily understand new concepts and apply them effectively to real-world scenarios, making an immediate impact.

Above all, the ideal candidate is passionate about engineering and innovation. They are deeply motivated by the challenges and opportunities in the field and are committed to contributing fresh, creative solutions to drive progress and advancement.

If you are eager to develop your career in Engineering and possess these qualities, you could be the perfect fit for our team at Network Rail.

If you do not hold a valid Right to Work in the UK, we will not be able to sponsor this role.

How to Apply (External)
We are an inclusive employer of choice, Disability Confident Leader! We encourage people to work flexibly and welcome applications from everyone Click here for more information.

Visit Evenbreak’s Career Hive should you need accessibility support to apply. Should you require any reasonable adjustments/modifications, please add a note to your application.

Network Rail Benefits

28 days annual leave – with the opportunity to buy and/or sell upto 5 days
Access to a range of contributory pension schemes, and the potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground  season tickets if you travel to work on the train
Privileged staff travel – Leisure travel discount of 75%
We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.
A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
Hybrid working (2/3 days a week in the office/on site) and enhanced family-friendly support
Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
5 days of paid volunteering leave
2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community 
To find out about what benefits we offer, click here

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information

Drugs & Alcohol test: All prospective candidates offered a conditional role will be required to undergo and pass a drugs and alcohol test. Your application will be rescinded if you record a positive test. All positive drugs and alcohol test results for prospective candidates will be securely held on Sentinel database and a 5 year suspension from applying for a safety critical role, a role which requires PTS certification or a Key Safety role on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure will be enforced

Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness in your application.

This vacancy is Band 8, salary: £24,500 per annum

Closing date: Friday 28 February 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

What is your motivation to apply for an Engineering apprenticeship with Capital Delivery and Network Rail?
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