Training Programmes to Close the Skills Gap

From its Training Centre in Aston, Birmingham, INFRA Skills is training a highly skilled workforce that can meet the growing demand for workers in the rail and construction sectors

The INFRA Skills Training Centre focuses primarily on rail and construction training. This modern training facility assists infrastructure companies in developing and training their workforce to meet increasing demand, particularly in the rail sector. The West Midlands area is responsible for 49,000 railway-related jobs –the second-highest concentration of all UK regions outside of London.

Purpose-built rail training area has over 80 metres of track

The training centre in the West Midlands provides modern on-site training. Adjacent to the centre is a purpose-built Rail Training area with more than 80 metres of railway track, including working points, signals, RRAPs and a level crossing. There has been significant investment, making it one of the best training facilities in the country. INFRA Skills trainers work with students to ensure they gain hands-on, practical experience in learning the skills required to build and maintain rail lines.

Learn to build, maintain and repair the UK’s infrastructure

INFRA Skills actively supports rail and construction companies to build a workforce capable of building, maintaining, and repairing the UK's infrastructure while ensuring our industry has the skills it needs to grow the economy.

Steven Morley, General Manager of INFRA Skills, said: ‘We are proud that INFRA Skills provides newly trained people needed to meet demand and bridge the skills gap. In the years ahead, there will be tremendous opportunities in the rail sector. We need to build a fresh pipeline of talent because many older workers nearing retirement have a wealth of knowledge they need to pass on to the next generation. We need to increase the number of people working in the sector, and INFRA Skills can help by preparing a highly-trained workforce capable of filling open positions and meeting the growing need for workers.’

The business focuses on three key areas to support the infrastructure sector: Commercial training and assessments, funded learning, and occupational health services.

Commercial training

INFRA Skills provides safety-critical training for people working in the rail or construction sectors and assessments for those who need to recertify their skills.

The business offers a wide range of rail training courses ideal for anyone looking to begin a career in the rail or construction industries. PTS (Personal Track Safety) and Track Induction are two examples. They also train more experienced employees who want to advance their careers by upskilling or recertifying their skills.

Trained assessors can provide assessments to people working on Network Rail infrastructure. Engineering Supervisor (ES), Controller of Site Safety (COSS), Protection Controller (PC), Nominated Person (NP), Authorised Person (AP), and Individual Working Alone (IWA) are among the assessments available. Assessors can carry out these assessments during the day, at night, or on weekends by arrangement.

Funded learning

INFRA Skills works with funding organisations such as Black Country Impact and WMCA to provide the best future employment opportunities for disadvantaged adults, helping them and the community in which they live.

The Funded Learning course is a threeweek programme for people aged 19+ who want to learn the essential rail and construction skills needed to start working in this exciting industry. It is taught by rail engineering professionals who have worked or are currently working in the rail industry.

Learners will use the excellent training facilities for both classroom and practical sessions. Funded courses have specific criteria that candidates must meet to receive financial assistance.

The programmes aim to engage disadvantaged people and provide them with the knowledge, skills, and understanding they need to prepare for employment or further study in the rail industry.

Tackling the skills shortage and improving social mobility

INFRA Skills has a long history of reducing the skills shortage and increasing social mobility. It does this through Local Enterprise Partnerships, which include collaboration with colleges, prisons, charities, ex-military and government departments to assist those with disabilities or individuals struggling to find work by removing the barriers they face.

Richard Toy, CEO of Auctus Management Group, INFRA Skills' parent company, said: ‘We recognise the economic and social value that infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the Midland Metro bring to the local economy, whether through the use of local supply chains or the recruitment, training, and development of local labour. We work with local communities, Jobcentre Plus offices, regional and national charities, and local colleges and training providers to provide our clients with access to highly trained professionals, ensuring they have the broadest talent pool possible to deliver projects successfully.’

The Funded Learning programme is divided into two phases and is delivered over 15 days. CSCS Level 1 Health and Safety, Emergency First Aid at Work, Manual Handling, and Fire Awareness are covered in Phase 1 (five days). The course will cover the essentials to start a career in Rail or Construction. PTS E-Learning, PTS Practical, DCCR, OLEC 1, Small Plant, Track Induction, and Interviews are part of Phase 2 (ten days).

Occupational health

The rail sector must do more to safeguard workers against serious occupational and mental health issues. The in-house team, managed by an Occupational Health Nurse, can perform D&A tests and medical examinations following Network Rail standards to determine whether staff are fit to work. They are also qualified to conduct wellness assessments and provide lifestyle advice.

Any business in the UK can use its team of highly qualified and professional professionals to conduct D&A and medical exams to decide whether employees are fit to work. All assessments are supervised by an in-house Occupational Health Nurse.

The Know Your Numbers campaign is a nurse-led programme to help businesses and employees understand their health. Know Your Numbers encourages people to understand their cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and body mass index (or BMI) numbers to raise awareness, increase the detection of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and make healthier lifestyle choices.

PTS medical and drug and alcohol testing

An approved medical provider must conduct a medical evaluation. Under Network Rail's authority, RISQS regulates this, and INFRA Skills is RISQS-accredited to deliver this service. Regular audits ensure that providers meet the quality control standards for the specific performance and training requirements to conduct reliable medical assessments.

PTS Courses (the cornerstone for any rail maintenance job) are only available to candidates who have passed the PTS Medical and Drug & Alcohol Test. These tests are mandated by Network Rail and are essential for safety reasons. You must have a valid PTS Medical and PTS Drug & Alcohol Test throughout your rail career.

Fingerprint drug testing for non-rail employees

Fingerprint drug testing is a popular non-invasive solution for non-rail staff. INFRA Skills can also perform wellbeing assessments at their training centre or the client's site if a minimum of ten persons are present.

Steven Morley added: ‘We have invested in our training centre in Birmingham, where we offer a variety of courses and practical training. We aim to prepare candidates for a rewarding career in rail or construction or continue upskilling by developing new knowledge. We play a vital role in developing a continuous supply chain of highly skilled and diverse talent with specific sector expertise by delivering commercial training, funded learning, and apprenticeships.’

Anyone interested in learning more about INFRA Skills, their training programmes, safety-critical training courses and assessments, get in touch via the contact information below.

Tel: 0330 113 0006

Email: info@infraskills.co.uk.

Visit: infraskills.co.uk