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Our apprenticeship Scheme at East Kent Railway is designed to give the Apprentices, a minimum of 15 weeks of training,obtaining all the necessary certificates, such as PTS, first aid, small tools etc. that they will need to be employed in the Rail Industry.
Whilst at EKR they are on £2-65 an hour plus expenses but unlike other schemes, when they gain employment, even though we send out our assessors to assist them and keep an eye on them, throughout the first year, nothing is taken from them, they receive full wages once they are employed.
Once in employment it is up to them, how they perform will determine when they lose their Blue Hat(trainee) status and after a year, if successful, they will receive their NVQ Level 2.
The industry gains through getting employees that come with certificates that cost well over £1000+ and have already received work experience.
EKR gains by having these lads on sight doing jobs that are needed to keep the railway moving forward but it is much more than that for many of us, just to see these lads having something meaningful to look forward to, is far more rewarding to us.
Our Communities gain, by having many of their youth employed and contributing in a far more positive way than they ever could have hoped for.
This scheme must survive, this alone can achieve so much for so many people, it must be supported.