The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has now passed the halfway mark of its ambitious aim to take on 590 apprentices across the rail upgrade between Manchester and York, via Leeds and Huddersfield.
The number of apprentices on the multi-billion-pound programme has reached 346, primarily recruited from locations along the route and amounting to over £15 million in value to society, according to the Rail Social Value Tool.
Apprentices are working in various disciplines across TRU, including Civil Engineering, Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Ecology. Many TRU apprentices have university degrees built into their apprenticeships, taking one or two days a week off work to study.
Business Administration Apprentice [Level 3 Business Administration]Location: York Contract Type:Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only Start date: September 2025 Office Requirement: Hybrid with an expectation of minimum 3 days per week working from the York office. Working from other TRU offices in Leeds/Huddersfield/Manchester or occasional travel to other sites is expected Entry Requirements: You’ll need to have 2 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above to apply, this must include English and Maths Education Provider: York College. Further course details and entry requirements: Business Administration… | York College & University Centre Assessment Centre: 25 April 2025. York Close Date: 28 February 2025 |
Data Analyst Apprentice [Level 4 Data Analyst] x2 rolesLocation: York or Manchester Contract Type: Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only Start date: September 2025 Office Requirement: Hybrid with an expectation of 3 days per week working from the York or Manchester office depending on your home office location Entry Requirements: You’ll need to have 2 GCSE’s at Grade C/4 or above to apply, this must include English and Math’s Education Provider: Projecting Success. Further course details: Data Analyst Apprenticeship | Level 4 | Projecting Success Assessment Centre: 25 April 2025. York. Closing Date: 28 February 2025 |
Human Resources Apprentice [Level 3 HR Support]Location: York Contract Type: Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only Start date: September 2025 Office Requirement: Hybrid with an expectation of 3 days per week working from the York office Entry Requirements: You’ll need to have 4 GCSE’s at Grade C/4 or above to apply, this must include English and Math’s. Education Provider: York College. Further course details: Human Resources Support… | York College & University Centre Assessment Centre: 25 April 2025. York. Closing Date: 28 February 2025 |
Level 6 Rail and Rail Systems Engineering Apprenticeship x2 rolesWe have two opportunities available: Mechanical Engineering pathway: We are looking for someone passionate about mechanical engineering to support our 76 miles of overhead line electrification works, telecoms engineering for our cutting-edge digital signalling and telecommunications system upgrades, or track/civil engineering. Track Engineering pathway: This role involves working on our extensive track upgrade projects across the route. University award: BEng (Honours) Railway Engineering Location: Leeds Contract Type: Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only Start date: September 2025 Office Requirement: Hybrid with an expectation of a minimum of 3 days per week working from a TRU office Entry Requirements: 112 UCAS points (including a Mathematics-based subject) plus GCSE (or equivalent) with Mathematics and English at grade C or grade 4, or above Education Provider: Sheffield Hallam University. Further course details and entry requirements: Rail and rail systems senior engineer | Sheffield Hallam University Assessment Centre: 25 April 2025. York. Closing Date: 28 February 2025 |
L4 Project Management Apprenticeship – Industry Wide Rail ApprenticeshipPlanBEE Rail is a unique higher apprenticeship programme designed to recruit and train the next generation of project managers. Developed by Network Rail, its supply chain partners, Gateshead College, and NSAR (the National Skills Academy for Rail), the programme prepares you for a career in rail project management with a strong emphasis on digital skills and multi-disciplinary team working. Start date: September 2025 Entry Requirements: You should have already completed GCSE (Level 2) and A Level (or equivalent Level 3) study and be eligible to apply for university level study in the UK. You need 3 A Levels at grade C and above or a BTEC Extended Diploma (averaging merits/distinctions), or the equivalent of 96 UCAS points plus GCSE Maths, Science and English at grade 4 (C) or above. Closing Date: 23 March 2025
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Our apprentices on TRU have identified the cost of living crisis, tuition fee debt, career prospects and enhanced hands-on learning as reasons for choosing apprenticeships, but lets hear from them in their own words…
Follow Brooke and Jacob, two current TRU Apprentices, as they take us through their interesting and varied days…
TRU is creating tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, including 8,000 new and safeguarded roles, with 60% of the construction workforce employed from within 25 miles of the route and 80% within 40 miles.
TRU is also set to deliver a minimum 50p value to society for every £1 spent on construction, generating £4.28 billion of social value, as outlined in the TRU Sustainability Strategy ‘Our Guiding Compass’ which was first published in 2023:
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View Our Guiding Compass – TRU Sustainable Development Strategy here |