A leading rail company has taken on 10 new apprentices to keep the business on track for success.
Arriva Trains Wales has joined forces with Acorn’s specialist learning and development division to help recruit and train 10 new apprentices as part of its customer service team. The two organisations are working together to deliver Apprenticeships, and Foundation Apprenticeships, in Business Administration and Customer Service.
Eight of the apprentices have been employed at the firm’s Cardiff office, while two more have started at the North Wales branch.
Alexis Powell, age 23 from Barry, said: “It’s really interesting and exciting. I am doing new and different things every day. I was attracted to the scheme because of the opportunity to learn a specialism within the company and the fact that by completing the apprenticeship I would gain a NVQ in Business Administration.
“Being in the train planning department is challenging as there is a lot of information to learn and also a lot of elements that I will only pick up with experience. The most fun part is going out and about and meeting various people within the company.”
Michael Bond, age 18 from Whitchurch, said: “This apprenticeship appealed to me because it gives me an opportunity to get a real insight into Arriva and the rail industry.
“So far I have learnt to use the complex and specialised computer software which is not readily available, I have also gained knowledge of how different departments and train operating companies work together. As I am a very sociable person one of the most enjoyable parts of my job is being a member of a team and learning from them.”
Steve Badock, Train Planning & Diagramming Manager, said: “Alexis and Michael have settled in really well and have quickly embraced the many varied aspects of train planning.
“As well as having to gain an understanding of the various processes that we work to, they have also travelled around our network to learn more about signalling, track layouts and the geography of our services.”
Ann Nicholas, Head of Corporate Development, Acorn Learning & Development, said: “Research shows that employers who have opted for apprenticeships generally see an improvement in the productivity of their staff as well as in the quality of their work.
“Two thirds of employers have reported that the benefits of apprenticeships to their organisation included the introduction of new ideas, improved product or services, greater staff morale and better staff retention[1].
“From our experience, with Arriva Trains Wales and with our different clients, we can truly say that apprenticeships are a win-win solution when it comes to the development of both new and existing members of staff.”
Established in 1992, Acorn has its headquarters in Newport and has 38 branches across the UK.