Action needs to be taken now to prevent a serious escalation of skills shortages in the rail industry over the next five years, according to the ‘Back on Track’ report published by City & Guilds and the National Skills Academy for Rail.

The report says systemic pipeline issues have created a shortage of trained and talented employees, and industry collaboration is needed to address problems including a short-term approach to skills development, an ageing workforce and reliance on overseas and ‘third-tier’ workers on short fixed-term or zero hours contracts.

The seven key recommendations outlined in the report are to:

• build lifelong learning commitments into project specifications for national rail projects, starting with apprenticeships;
• transform the rail industry into a career destination, especially for young people, including educating the public about what a career in rail ‘really looks like’;
• develop strong career paths to attract and retain talent and maximise productivity;
• make mid-career entry to the industry and skills transfer more frictionless;
• build greater participation at a local/regional level;
• government and relevant partners should consider a perception and awareness raising campaign;
• utilise the green agenda to attract a new generation of people to the industry.

Welcoming the report, General Secretary of the TSSA trade union Manuel Cortes urged the government and industry leaders to ‘act now to prevent a skills gap opening’.

Manuel said:

There is a clear need to attract new people to our industry due to skills shortages and that means it is imperative that our rail industry becomes more inclusive.

There is an opportunity to take action now through providing training and recruitment opportunities to ensure we have the skilled workforce our railways need and at the same provide quality jobs in a diverse workforce.”

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: 

To allow skills to be created, retained and also seamlessly transferred around the railway we need a return to a unified and integrated approach to railway itself and the stable, secure and attractive career path that would create.

This report should also serve as another good reason for the government to abandon its plans to abolish Trade Union learning which has done so much to help promote rail skills.”

The Union Learning Fund has, over recent years, included projects that support skills development across the rail industry. These include ASLEF’s work around the Level 3 Train Drive Apprenticeship standard, a TSSA report into the Future of Rail  and the signing of an Apprenticeship Charter and work that RMT reps have been doing to promote learning and skills.

Unionlearn Director Kevin Rowan said:

Trade unions across the rail industry have been involved with the Union Learning Fund through projects, using it to inspire learning, up skill members and support the next generation into the industry through higher level apprenticeships.”

Unionlearn recognises the findings of this report, which demonstrates that the ULF is needed more than ever and are keen to continue supporting rail unions find innovative ways to plug the skills gaps across the sector."