National Apprenticeship Week 2026: Case studies and opportunities across UK light rail and the wider transport sector
- 3 hours ago
- 6 min read
National Apprenticeship Week, which runs every year in February, provides an important opportunity to reflect on the role apprenticeships continue to play in shaping the future of the lightrail and tramway sector. UKTram is proud to support the campaign running 9th-15th February 2026 by sharing stories and opportunities from across the sector, with a particular focus on operator-led apprenticeship programmes.
Apprenticeships have long played a vital role in the light rail sector, providing practical pathways into skilled, long-term careers. With an industry that faces a growing skills gap and increasing demand for technical expertise, structured training and long-term workforce planning have never been more important.
UKTram has published a new blog for National Apprenticeship Week, setting out seven practical routes into careers across the light rail sector. The piece highlights the essential role of apprenticeships in building skills, supporting workforce renewal, and creating long-term career pathways within tram and light rail operations.
The blog outlines opportunities offered by light rail operators, infrastructure providers and maintainers, covering technical, operational and business-facing roles. UKTram encourages those interested in the sector to explore operator careers pages and national apprenticeship portals, positioning apprenticeships as a direct and accessible entry point into a growing industry.
Transport for Greater Manchester has marked National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting the experiences of apprentices who have launched and developed their careers across the organisation, and by promoting current apprenticeship opportunities within the Bee Network.
One of the featured stories is Guratma Patwal, who joined TfGM in 2024 as a Project Management Apprentice and is already contributing to major projects transforming the city-region. Her apprenticeship has combined hands-on project experience with structured learning, mentoring and peer support, helping her build confidence across the full project lifecycle.
Guratma highlighted the value of working with a range of managers and leadership styles, gaining exposure from project initiation through delivery and closure, which shaped both her skills and ambitions.
TfGM is encouraging those interested in starting a career in transport to explore its current apprenticeship vacancies and read more apprenticeship stories on the website.
Transport for London has launched 157 apprenticeship roles as part of National Apprenticeship Week, showcasing a wide range of career pathways across its transport network, including tram engineering and track engineering roles.
The 2026 intake spans Level 2 to Level 6 apprenticeships, offering opportunities for people at all stages of their careers to earn while they learn. Roles are available across engineering, construction supervision, data analysis and asset maintenance, with tram engineering highlighted as a key route into maintaining and developing London’s light rail network.
TfL confirmed it is recruiting a new cohort of Trams Engineering Apprentices, building on the legacy of London Trams, which supports more than 17 million journeys a year across south London. Former apprentices have progressed into permanent technical and professional roles, underlining the long-term career potential of the schemes.
KeolisAmey Metrolink has been marking National Apprenticeship Week by sharing apprentice stories across its LinkedIn and Instagram channels and has also shared these experiences with UKTram to support wider sector engagement.
The series showcases apprentices past and present, illustrating the breadth of roles and entry routes available across Metrolink. Featured pathways span security, engineering, business administration and professional services, demonstrating how apprenticeships can provide structured, paid routes into long-term careers within light rail. Each success story underlines how apprenticeships can adapt to different career ambitions while contributing directly to the safe, efficient and customer-focused operation of a major light rail system.
Transport for Wales (TfW) has opened applications for its 2026 Apprenticeship Programme, marking National Apprenticeship Week with a renewed focus on developing skills, early careers and long-term opportunities across the transport sector.
The programme offers people across Wales the chance to earn, learn and build recognised qualifications while gaining hands-on experience within a growing and evolving transport organisation. TfW has a strong track record of progressing apprentices into permanent roles and continues to expand its early-career pathways to reflect the wide range of skills needed to deliver modern, integrated transport networks.
For 2026, TfW is offering 11 apprenticeship opportunities across 10 specialist areas, including train planning, event planning and delivery, delivery network infrastructure, customer operations, project management, business and commercial analytics, supply chain management and HR systems. Several of these roles are being offered for the first time.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, Railway 200 has highlighted careers across the rail sector, including through a dedicated carriage on its touring exhibition train, Inspiration, focused entirely on Routes into Rail.
The careers carriage showcases the breadth of opportunities available, from engineering and operations to digital and IT roles, reinforcing the message that apprenticeships can provide a direct and impactful pathway into long-term careers. In a recent feature, Piya, an IT Degree Apprentice with Network Rail, shares insight into her role and experience working in the rail industry, helping to demonstrate how apprenticeships are supporting the next generation of transport professionals.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026, Midland Metro Alliance is celebrating apprentices who have completed their programmes and reinforcing the importance of attracting new talent to the light rail sector.
The video features Rose Rees, Head of Engagement and Skills, who reflects on the need to encourage more people into the industry at a time when many experienced professionals are approaching retirement. Rose highlights the importance of bringing through the next generation - combining established skills and knowledge with fresh thinking and new perspectives.
Amey has also shared a short video celebrating the achievements of its apprentices and the role apprenticeships play. Featuring apprentices Lydia and Jay, the video highlights how hands-on experience and real responsibility are helping them develop professionally while making a positive impact within their communities.
Amey is also using the week to promote a wide range of apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship opportunities across areas including civil engineering, business administration, data and analytics, facilities management and highways maintenance.
Network Rail's latest video campaign features apprentices working across engineering, professional and operational roles, highlighting how hands-on learning, structured development and real-world experience are helping to build confidence and long-term careers in rail.
While focused on the national rail network, the initiative underlines the importance of apprenticeships in developing transferable skills that also support light rail, metro and tram systems - from infrastructure and asset management to digital, safety and project delivery roles.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has highlighted the breadth of apprenticeship opportunities across its organisation as part of National Apprenticeship Week, including HR, Health and Safety and Communications roles.
The featured “day in the life” profile of a Communications Apprentice demonstrates the diverse professional routes available within the rail and regulatory environment, further supporting the sector-wide commitment to developing early career talent. ORR is also encouraging individuals to explore apprenticeship opportunities via the website.
KeolisAmey Docklands is recruiting for a new Engineering Apprentice to support the continued operation and maintenance of the Docklands Light Railway.
The apprenticeship offers both Level 2 and Level 3 pathways, with programmes lasting up to three years that combine paid, hands-on experience with nationally recognised engineering qualifications. Apprentices will rotate across engineering teams, gaining exposure to rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance, fault diagnosis, safety-critical systems and real-world engineering environments.
Open to school leavers and career-changers alike, the programme reflects KeolisAmey Docklands’ commitment to developing future engineering talent and providing structured, inclusive routes into the light rail sector.
Apprenticeships help the sector respond to changing workforce needs. These pathways support innovation anddiversity ensuring critical skills are passed on as experienced colleagues retire.
As light rail systems continue to expand, modernise and integrate with wider transport networks, investing in people remains just as important as investing in infrastructure. UKTram continues to play an active role in shaping future apprenticeship programmes and skills pathways through enhanced engagement, including work such as the engineering apprenticeship trailblazer reviews and the development of National Occupational Standards. There will be some exciting new announcements from UKTram on skills and training collaborations, and on support for the sector, in the Spring.
If you’re a UKTram member with a case study, apprenticeship programme or career opportunity you’d like to share in this round-up, we’d love to hear from you. Please email chelsea.branch@uktram.co.uk with details and supporting material.