In a landmark achievement for the UK transport sector, West Midlands Railway (WMR) has officially become the first train operator in the country to be awarded Gold ‘Excellent Employer’ status for its engineering apprenticeship scheme. This prestigious accreditation, delivered by Next Gen Makers, marks a significant milestone in how the rail industry approaches engineering skills training and long-term talent retention.
The accreditation follows a rigorous assessment period that prioritises the direct experience of the workforce. Unlike traditional audits that focus solely on administrative compliance, the ‘Excellent Employer’ status is heavily weighted on feedback from existing apprentices. This ensures that the recognition is not merely a badge of intent, but a reflection of the actual quality of the training environment and the support provided to the next generation of engineers.
For an industry often cited as facing a critical skills gap, WMR’s achievement serves as a blueprint for how engineering apprenticeship schemes can be leveraged to future-proof technical operations while maintaining high standards of occupational competence.
A Data-Driven Approach to Engineering Apprenticeships
The path to Gold accreditation is intentionally demanding. At Next Gen Makers, our assessment framework is designed to identify companies that go beyond the baseline requirements of apprenticeship delivery. For West Midlands Railway, this involved a year-long deep dive into their culture, mentorship structures, and technical facilities.
The core of this assessment is the voice of the apprentice. By surveying the 16 apprentices currently moving through the WMR programme, the assessment identified a consistent high standard of mentorship and a clear integration between classroom theory and depot-based practice. This feedback-led model ensures that the Gold status is a true indicator of a supportive and high-functioning learning environment.
This achievement is part of a broader trend of excellence we are seeing across the region. You can read more about similar successes in our good news, where industry leaders are increasingly stepping up to meet the demands of modern manufacturing and engineering.
Linking Investment to Educational Outcomes: The £70m Tyseley Factor
A primary driver behind WMR’s success is the substantial capital investment into their operational infrastructure. In October 2025, WMR completed a £70 million upgrade at its main depot in Tyseley, south Birmingham. This investment was not solely focused on operational capacity but was strategically designed to enhance the training ground for their engineering cohort.
The upgrades included:
- Extension of the main shed: Allowing for the maintenance of longer, modern train sets.
- Improved inspection facilities: Providing apprentices with state-of-the-art diagnostic environments.
- New train lifting equipment: Ensuring that trainees are working with the latest industry-standard machinery.
The correlation between high-quality facilities and apprentice satisfaction is clear. When young engineers have access to modern MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) technology, their engagement and rate of skill acquisition increase significantly. At Tyseley, apprentices are learning to service complex mechanical and electrical systems that are at the forefront of the rail industry, providing them with “skills for life” in a real-world, high-stakes environment.
Strategic Collaboration: WMR and Birmingham Metropolitan College
The success of the WMR scheme is also a testament to the power of effective partnership between industry and education. Delivered in collaboration with Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet), the four-year salaried engineering apprenticeship blends academic rigour with hands-on experience.
Mike Townsend, Deputy Director for Business Development at BMet, commented on the achievement:
“We would like to offer our warmest congratulations to West Midlands Railway on becoming the first train operator in the UK to achieve gold ‘Excellent Employer’ status. This is a well-deserved recognition of WMR’s dedication to supporting early careers talent. At BMet, we are proud to support WMR with a tailored, industry-standard apprenticeship programme in Rail Engineering. By working together, we are helping to future-proof the region’s talent supply chain.”
This collaborative model ensures that the curriculum remains relevant to the evolving needs of the rail sector, addressing specific technical requirements that general engineering courses might overlook.
Leadership with an Apprentice Pedigree
The commitment to engineering apprenticeships at WMR starts at the very top. John Doughty, Engineering Director at WMR, understands the journey better than most, having started his own career as an apprentice.
“This accreditation recognises our commitment to offering high-quality training, so we can develop the next generation of rail talent and help young people launch their career with us,” Doughty stated. “I know how valuable these opportunities are, and I am so proud that our team has achieved this gold standard.”
When leadership has a personal connection to the apprenticeship pathway, it often translates into a more robust support system for new recruits. This cultural alignment is a key factor in why WMR was able to meet the stringent criteria for Gold accreditation.
What this means for Engineering & Manufacturing employers
WMR’s success is a call to action for other employers in the Engineering & Manufacturing sectors. It demonstrates that achieving excellence in talent development requires a holistic approach that combines capital investment, strategic educational partnerships, and a culture that truly values the apprentice’s perspective.
For firms looking to replicate this success, we recommend several key takeaways:
- Prioritise the Training Environment: As seen with the Tyseley investment, the quality of the physical workspace directly impacts the quality of the learning. Up-to-date equipment is essential for developing occupational competence.
- Listen to Your Apprentices: Regular, honest feedback loops are the only way to identify gaps in mentorship or training delivery. This is the cornerstone of our Apprenticeship Self-Assessmentprocess.
- Invest for the Long Term: A four-year programme, like WMR’s, allows for a deep acquisition of skills that a shorter, less structured course cannot match.
- Solve the Regional Skills Gap: By developing local talent in the West Midlands, WMR is securing its own operational future while contributing to the regional economy. This is a proactive way to solve the skills gap rather than reacting to it.
Next Gen Makers: Raising the Bar Across the UK
At Next Gen Makers, our mission is to provide the framework that allows companies to transition from ’employing apprentices’ to ‘becoming excellent employers’. The Gold ‘Excellent Employer’ status is the highest tier of our accreditation, reserved for those who demonstrate a gold standard in every aspect of their engineering apprenticeship schemes.
We have seen how this level of commitment transforms businesses, from large-scale operators like West Midlands Railway to specialist SMEs. Whether it is deburring experts recruiting via Dudley College or Mueller Europe taking on mechanical engineers, the underlying principle remains the same: quality training leads to business growth.
The achievement of West Midlands Railway is a proud moment for the rail industry and for the West Midlands as a whole. It proves that with the right investment and a commitment to best practices, the UK can lead the way in technical vocational education.
Take the Next Step in Your Apprenticeship Journey
Is your organisation ready to benchmark its apprenticeship scheme against the best in the UK? Achieving Gold status starts with an honest appraisal of your current offering.
We encourage all engineering and manufacturing employers to utilise our Apprenticeship Self-Assessment tool to identify areas for improvement and begin the journey toward accreditation.
- Benchmark your progress: Start your Apprenticeship Self-Assessment
- Expert Consultation: Book a Call with our team to discuss how we can support your engineering skills training strategy.