Published on: Wednesday, 4 November 2020
Last updated: Wednesday, 4 November 2020
Greater Anglia is among a group of transport providers recognised for developing the skills of its workforce.
The rail operator’s parent company, Abellio UK, has been named as one of the top 100 apprenticeship providers for the work it and its subsidiaries do to support their employees’ professional development.
The group was placed at number 39 for its overall commitment to employing apprentices, creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of new apprentices, and the progression of apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.
Since 2017, Greater Anglia has created over 180 adult apprenticeships to enable its teams including train drivers, conductors, station and office staff to continue to learn new skills and improve their career progression under the government’s Apprenticeship Levy scheme.
Laurita Rudaityte, a Greater Anglia conductor who is currently on the Level 2 Passenger Transport Onboard and Station Team Member apprenticeship, said, "I feel really lucky and thankful to Greater Anglia for giving me an opportunity to take this course which has changed my life and helped me reach my goals.
"During this course I achieved a huge change in my job role from a train presentation team member to my dream job as a train conductor. I believe without this course I would not be where I am now.
"Since I started my apprenticeship, I feel much more confident in excelling in my day to day interaction with customers and work colleagues.
Dawn Robinson, Greater Anglia’s Head of Learning & Talent Development, said "Alongside their formal role training, these programmes enable our frontline people to achieve a nationally recognised industry accreditation.
"This means all of our internal apprentices can formally evidence the knowledge, skills and behaviour relevant to their respective roles and feel proud of their own accomplishment."
Greater Anglia introduced its first apprenticeship programme in 2017, for new entrant mainline drivers, using its own internal facilitators, which attracted over 100 participants.
This was followed by a range of wider apprenticeship programmes available to all colleagues across the business, working with external training providers to deliver the programmes. This saw over 50 people enrol onto programmes including Customer Service, Team Leading/Supervisor, Operational Manager, and Project Management apprenticeships.
In 2019, the scheme was expanded to offer an apprenticeship programme for conductors which has seen over 30 new conductors enrol to date.
New in 2020, the rankings showcase the very best of England’s large apprenticeship employers, with employers recognised for providing some of the most successful apprenticeship programmes over the previous 12 months.
The list will help potential apprentices, parents and careers advisers to identify the best apprenticeship opportunities with the highest performing apprentice employers.
Over 400 applications were received, with the results announced on 21 October.
The new rankings have been developed by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with High Fliers Research, who independently assessed and compiled the new national leader board of top apprenticeship employers.
Peter Mucklow, Director, Apprenticeships, Education and Skills Funding Agency added:
"During such a difficult year it is encouraging to see that apprenticeships continue to be critical to business performance and success.
"Today’s announcement shows that there are outstanding employers delivering apprenticeships across all sectors, and the Top 100 apprenticeship employer rankings rightly give recognition and thanks to those who have shown, and continue to show, huge commitment to apprenticeships.
"I look forward to seeing how these 100 employers use their status to showcase the many benefits of apprenticeships, whilst encouraging other employers to consider recruiting an apprentice."