Network Rail agrees cross-industry graduate scheme

The graduate development scheme will see Network Rail working with the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) and the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) to create a cross-industry programme of training and experience for civil engineer graduates.

The agreement was signed this week by Paul Clark, Network Rail’s senior programme engineering manager, Mike Cocks, CECA’s UK rail director, and ACE chairman Graham Nicholson, at The Infrastructure Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

According to a statement the agreement will allow graduates working for Network Rail to spend time with other civil engineering organisations and vice versa, providing a cross-industry level of experience.

Neil Thompson, Network Rail programme director for infrastructure investment, said: ’This agreement provides an excellent platform for our engineering graduates to gain cross-industry experience, working with different organisations to develop their knowledge and skills.

’It will also help the future of the engineering industry and develop our business by providing better equipped, more knowledgeable engineers who will help to deliver a safer and better value for money railway for Britain.’