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TRAINING
RAILSTAFF JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022
NIS SUPPORT'S RAIL'S RECRUITMENT PUSH A WOLVERHAMPTON-BASED TRAINING PROVIDER IS RAMPING UP ACTIVITIES TO HELP THE RAIL SECTOR MEET AN ANTICIPATED 120,000 SHORTFALL IN STAFF.
N Davie Carns.
ational Infrastructure Solutions (NIS), launched by former youth international footballer and Royal Marine Commando Davie Carns in 2018, is looking to help hundreds of local workers retrain and upskill to take advantage of a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity for the West Midlands.
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The company, which is already working with huge industry employers such as Rhomberg Sersa and Amey Rail on industry-specific courses, is also the lead partner at the City of Wolverhampton College’s (CoWC) new rail training centre at its Wellington Road Campus in Bilston. The facility is equipped with installation and maintenance equipment to support courses on conventional, high speed and
light rail lines. It is also the first in the UK to offer training on slab track systems that are used in the construction of high-speed rail lines, such as HS2, directly adjacent to a conventional rail track for training purposes. This demonstrates NIS and CoWC’s commitment to creating both opportunity and choice for learners as they take their first steps into the rail industry. “Our region has a major employment opportunity with billions of pounds going into rail infrastructure projects planned for or passing through our area,” explained Davie, who initially started work in the sector as a trackman, often working weekends and nights while undertaking resettlement from the military. “Brexit is restricting the flow of European workers, meaning we are in a desperate rush to train people so they can enter employment in the sector and, equally importantly, upskill those already in the industry into more advanced roles to create sustainable careers for all. “What we have been doing over the last two years is listening to employers to develop a series of on-site and virtual courses that will equip individuals with core practical rail skills and qualifications covering leadership and management,
