Siemens Mobility has welcomed the latest group of apprentices to its Goole Rail Village, bringing the number of entry-level trainees across the site to over 35.
Apprentices at the Goole Rail Village are actively engaged in assembling Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London, directly supporting Siemens Mobility’s investment in UK rail industry skills.
The business’s apprenticeship programme welcomed 25 new individuals across the UK and Ireland, reflecting UK-wide commitment to talent development.
This latest intake contributes to the 175 apprentices currently on the programme, building on the 150 who are already enrolled on different apprenticeships.
Mark Speed, General Manager at Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, said:
“We’re committed to creating a powerful pipeline of talent and a lasting legacy of skills for our business and the wider industry. That’s why we have brought on board apprentices from the early days of the Goole project and continue to do so. This latest intake at Goole further contributes to our ongoing investment in developing young talent to help shape the future of the UK rail industry. Apprentices in our earlier cohorts are already making a significant impact in their teams, here at Goole and elsewhere in the business, and it’s fantastic to see their development and progress since joining us. We’re excited to support our newest recruits as they begin their journey, and we can’t wait to see what they all go on to achieve.”
80% of those trains will be assembled in Goole, where Siemens also intends to assemble future battery bi-mode train orders for the UK.
Goole Rail Village represents a significant investment of up to £240 million, creating up to 1,000 new jobs in the East Riding of Yorkshire, along with around 1,700 supply chain job opportunities.
Apprentices will gain invaluable experience in diverse roles such as Mechanical Fitter, Engineering Fitter, Maintenance Support, Manufacturing Technician, and Warehouse Management, all while combining practical experience with theoretical knowledge from York College.
Level 3 Apprentice Mechanical Fitter Rhys Penistone, 17, following his father into Siemens Mobility, said:
“I’ve always learned best by getting hands on and doing practical work, so I think an apprenticeship offers a good balance. It enables me to learn on the job while studying at college. My Dad has been a big inspiration for me. I’ve been interested in mechanics from a young age and grew up helping Dad to fix things such as motorbikes and go carts, so I knew I wanted to pursue a career in this area. Dad spoke really highly of Siemens Mobility so I knew it was a good company to work for. The atmosphere is really friendly and welcoming and everyone is so knowledgeable and helpful. I’ve already learned so much.”
Level 3 Engineering Fitter Apprentice Maisie Eastwood, 16, from Goole, shared her excitement:
“The main thing that attracted me to Siemens was the opportunity to work on London Underground trains. The idea of helping to build something which thousands of people will benefit from every day is so exciting. Being from Goole, it’s amazing to now have Siemens on my doorstep. It’s crazy to think this small town that not many people have heard about is playing such a big part in the transport network! Although I’m a female in an industry which is still quite male-dominated, I don’t feel like I’ve ever been treated differently. Everyone has been really supportive. One of my supervisors is a woman and I love seeing her briefing and leading the team – it’s really inspiring having so many women in senior positions at Siemens to look up to.”
Siemens Mobility took on board its first cohort of apprentices in Goole in 2020 during the early stages of the Rail Village development.
The majority of the first intake of 12 apprentices have progressed onto permanent roles within the business and are forging exciting careers with Siemens Mobility, at Goole and other locations.