GCRE, Wales: Rail Skills Program for Tata Steel Workers

GCRE Launches Rail Engineering Programme to Reskill Tata Steel Workers

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE), a world-class rail innovation and testing hub in South Wales, has announced an ambitious new skills programme designed to transition 72 individuals affected by job losses at Tata Steel into the burgeoning rail industry. This initiative, known as the Access to Rail Engineering Programme, is a collaboration with Neath Port Talbot Council and is funded through the UK Government’s Tata Transition Fund. Training will commence on Monday, July 7th, at the GCRE site near Onllwyn. This three-week course will equip participants with crucial qualifications for railway work, offering them new opportunities and addressing the growing skills gap in the region. The article will explore the program’s scope, its impact on local employment, the critical skills being imparted, and the strategic significance of GCRE in driving regional economic growth.

Addressing the Skills Gap and Supporting Local Communities

The primary objective of the Access to Rail Engineering Programme is to mitigate the impact of redundancies at Tata Steel by equipping former employees with the necessary skills to secure employment within the rail sector. The programme aims to directly address the forecasted shortage of 3,400 skilled rail workers within a 90-minute radius of Port Talbot by 2025, specifically within maintenance and capital projects. This proactive approach ensures a skilled workforce to support Wales’s growing rail sector. The initiative isn’t merely focused on short-term job placement; it’s designed to provide long-term career prospects. The programme’s comprehensive nature and specific focus on the transition of displaced workers exemplify how governmental funding can provide vital support for retraining and facilitating re-entry into the workforce.

Training Curriculum and Infrastructure Utilisation

The curriculum for the Access to Rail Engineering Programme is designed to furnish participants with the essential qualifications required to enter the rail industry. The three-week course includes training in Personal Track Safety (PTS), Track Induction Training, and a Level 1 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Certificate in Rail Engineering Track Renewals. The training will be delivered by Train’d Up, a well-regarded training provider. Notably, while the full GCRE site is still under development, the training will take place using existing rail infrastructure already operational at the Onllwyn location, ensuring a practical and hands-on learning environment. This strategic utilization of existing infrastructure allows the program to proceed swiftly, capitalizing on immediate needs and minimizing delays.

Collaboration and Employer Engagement

GCRE is actively collaborating with leading rail suppliers in Wales to secure paid employment for successful program participants. This collaborative approach is critical to ensuring a smooth transition from training to meaningful employment. The programme also actively encourages more rail and supply chain employers to get involved in future training rounds, reinforcing the partnership aspect of the initiative. Neath Port Talbot Council will play a critical role in facilitating the programme, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling economic challenges, and helping the GCRE fulfil its core mission of rebuilding local prosperity.

GCRE’s Vision for a Rail Innovation Hub

The Global Centre of Rail Excellence, backed by both the UK and Welsh Governments, is being developed as a world-class hub for rail innovation, testing, and research. The centre is intended to create 1,100 jobs in its first decade and to deliver over GBP 1.2 billion in long-term economic benefits. As the UK’s first net-zero-in-operation railway, GCRE is poised to become a leader in sustainable rail technologies. The project’s projected impact is significant; independent analysis suggests that every £1 invested will deliver £15 in wider economic benefits, contributing GBP 300 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) uplift over the next ten years. The training program is a crucial component of GCRE’s broader strategy, demonstrating its commitment to fostering local economic growth and driving industry advancements.

Conclusion

The launch of the Access to Rail Engineering Programme marks a significant step in mitigating the economic impact of Tata Steel job losses while simultaneously addressing the critical skills gap within Wales’s burgeoning rail sector. This collaborative effort between GCRE, Neath Port Talbot Council, and the UK government highlights a proactive approach to workforce development and regional economic revitalization. The intensive three-week course will equip participants with essential qualifications, ensuring they are prepared for immediate employment opportunities. The programme’s success hinges on sustained engagement from rail industry employers, paving the way for a skilled workforce to support ongoing maintenance projects and infrastructure expansion. GCRE’s commitment to creating a world-class rail innovation hub, coupled with this strategic training initiative, signals a positive outlook for the region, potentially influencing similar models across the UK.