Transport for London (TfL) has started the search for 114 to join the organisation from September 2021, with ‘exciting opportunities’ in a range of areas including commercial property, building services and many others
More than 9,850 apprentice roles have been created through TfL and its UK-wide supply since 2009, helping deliver major infrastructure projects like Crossrail, the Northern Line Extension and support the creation of new trains across London
More than a third of these new opportunities will be level-six apprenticeships, meaning that students will study for a degree while earning and gaining real work experience at the same time.
Since 2009, TfL, Crossrail, their suppliers and London Transport Museum have employed more than 9,850 apprentices – working on a huge vital infrastructure projects including the modernisation of key Tube stations, building the Northern Line Extension, and helping to redesign key junctions across London to make them safer and better for everyone. Many have now gone on to work full-time at TfL and its wider supply chain, making a real difference and supporting the critical running of the city’s public transport network.
Hannah Resnick, Associate Project Manager, who joined TfL as an apprentice in 2018, said: “I’d recommend an apprenticeship to anyone because you get paid to learn and you meet so many likeminded individuals – you’re treated as an equal and never made to feel like you’re just there to get the tea! Even though everything’s virtual at the moment, speak to people, ask questions and be open minded about what avenue your career could go down.
“My apprenticeship gave me the fantastic opportunity to undertake placements across the business, and now have a permanent role with TfL as an Associate Project Manager, upgrading the critical radio base units that are used by teams across the network. The TfL apprentice scheme gave me a brilliant training experience equipping me with the skills I needed to be successful. Before I started on the TfL apprentice scheme I had never heard of project management and now I’m working on communication systems and the Four Line Modernisation project. It was while doing my apprenticeship that I realised that my strengths were well suited to what is now my career.”
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, this year TfL is hosting a number of virtual events, including a free virtual recruitment fair with its UK-wide suppliers to help recruit more than 280 apprentices. Potential apprentices who have pre-registered for tickets will be able to take part in a series of virtual sessions with employers like Siemens, Mott Macdonald, Bombardier and Dragados during National Apprenticeship Week to discover what a role within the transport industry has to offer them. These companies are offering apprentices not only in London, but more widely across the UK including opportunities in cities such as Glasgow, York and Derby.
The virtual fair will also feature other members of the GLA family, such as the Metropolitan Police Service and London Fire Brigade who will be advising on their apprenticeship roles such as becoming a police officer and firefighter.
As well as hosting virtual events, this week TfL will be hosting an introduction to 45 of their apprenticeship roles and the recruitment process, informing attendees about apprenticeship vacancies in areas such as management, quantity surveying, commercial real estate and civil engineering. Attendees can expect to hear about what an apprenticeship with TfL involves, where it can lead and how TfL’s apprentices are helping shape London’s future. TfL is also supporting a number of schools and local boroughs across London with virtual events they are holding across London.
The global impact of investing in London’s transport network stretches far beyond London and TfL is proud to have supported their supply chain for many years. Investing in the London transport network bolsters the nation economically and will help the country recover following the challenges of recent months. For example – for every pound invested in improving London Underground, 55p is spent outside of London.
By including a range of internationally recognised suppliers from across the country at the first virtual apprenticeship fair, TfL continues to show its commitment to supporting the economic recovery of the UK following the pandemic. TfL is uniquely placed to help drive a strong and resilient future for London, in line with Government’s clear direction for a more efficient, productive and sustainable city.
A number of projects across London are shovel-ready and could be quickly accelerated with appropriate funding – driving innovation, tackling toxic air and strengthening the UK’s place in the world as a global leader while also creating new apprenticeship opportunities across the UK.
Tricia Wright, Chief People Officer at TfL, said: “We are committed to creating apprenticeship opportunities that provides routes into and back into work for individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds to join us in building for the future. This is the first time we have held virtual recruitment events and it’s a great way of finding out more about our apprenticeship schemes.
“Apprenticeships are an excellent way for anyone, not just those leaving school, to start a career in an area that they may not have heard of or even considered before. It’s important not to let preconceptions hold you back from trying something new. Working at TfL or within our wider UK supply chain means that you get to see first-hand the impact your work has on the city.”
Anyone interested in applying for an apprenticeship at TfL should visit https://careers.tfl.gov.uk/category/apprenticeships/
