Great Western Railway operate the rail networks from London Paddington to the Penzance in Cornwall. ASLEF Education established a learning agreement, developing a partnership with the Learning & Development Team to promote the learning agenda within the workplace, through the unions team of Union Learning Representatives.

ASLEF were fundamental to the development and introduction of the new Train Driver level 3 Standard for the industry. The Standard incorporates the practical vocational element of train driving and functional skills: literacy, numeracy and ICT.

 Over many years, ASLEF Education pressed GWR management to introduce a train driving qualification into their training programme. The lobbying finally paid off, when the ASLEF Education Project Worker successfully gained support of GWR senior management.

ASLEF Education Project Worker, Emma Penman, played an integral role in the development of the inaugural Train Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Scheme. Working collaboratively with key figures from the GWR.

She built a good relationship with the GWR Coach & Mentor to ensure that this programme was fit for purpose. GWR took responsibility for driver training and required a learning provider partner to take on the apprenticeship aspects.

Exeter College was best placed for this, having a good track-record the company. The ASLEF Education Project Worker worked with Exeter College, to develop their schedule and agree a format for the functional skills programme.

The Project Worker was also able ensured that the accredited Trauma Support Samaritan Training was incorporated into the apprenticeship pilot, to better prepare new drivers to cope with traumatic situations on the rails. They appointed the Institute of Railway Operators (IRO) as the end point assessment organisation that would independently assess the apprentices.

ASLEF District Organiser Brian Corbett and GWR Head of Driver Andrew Penrose jointly signed Apprenticeship Charter to lay out the intent to deliver quality apprenticeship provision. The first cohort of Train Driver Apprentices were then recruited.

The first ever Train Driver Apprentices were a group of twelve individuals (ten men & two women) and allocated to depots across the network. The Project Worker went to meet and welcome them at the apprenticeship induction. The pilot scheme has been a huge success with all apprentices remaining on programme and completing the apprenticeship.

The apprentices clearly benefited from the college residential weeks enabled a strong team bond to be formed and this was evident in the great support provided to each- others. All of the learners worked really hard and were praised by Exeter College staff for their commitment.

 “The learners engaged at a high level. Learners are positive about GWR and about Exeter College”. They have passed out as train drivers and await the end point assessment date to complete the apprenticeship.

Daniel Whitford, Coach & Mentor, said

GWR’s first Driver apprenticeship level 3 has been fundamental to upskill and ensure each trainee has a consistent level of education in English, Maths and Information & Communication Technology.

This not only improves confidence but will ensure that future opportunities will become available as we can be sure they have studied at a certain level. This apprenticeship cohort has been supportive and encouraging to each other, I feel it’s due to the fact they are doing the apprenticeship and are encouraged to work together for a common goal.

GWR driver training team have commented that the apprenticeship cohort are engaged more in classroom training and encouraging of one another, always willing to share best practices and always wanting the best for each other.

I do feel this pilot has been a success and is encouraging to hear how well they are doing in their End Point Assessment, with the first passing their EPA with flying colours in October”.

Building on the success of the pilot GWR plan to recruit a second intake in a few months. This demonstrates the important role of ASLEF Education team play in driver training.