The NSAR Rail Workforce Survey is created to provide the most complete and accurate representation of the UK rail workforce, in order to help the industry and its organisations set direction. I encourage you to get involved and provide your data for this year’s survey, as we all continue to work towards closing the skills gap together. You can find out more about how to submit your data here. If you would like to see what your data contributes towards, and have not yet seen it, download your free copy of the 2025 Workforce Survey Report now.
Don’t forget to book your exclusive place at the next Railway Study Network event on 2nd June, hosted by Southwestern Railway and Community Rail. Held at the iconic Surbiton Station, you’ll hear from industry heavyweights, receive a behind-the-scenes tour of the station and enjoy some fantastic refreshments that support sustainable, community-led initiatives. There is extremely limited space for this event, so make sure to get yours now here.
The Railway Ball is one of the most important events in the rail industry calendar, raising thousands for The Railway Children every year. This year’s theme will be ‘A Night at the Movies’ and I encourage you to come along for an evening of networking and unforgettable performances, all for an excellent cause. This year’s event will take place on the 27th November, and I hope to see you all there. You can book your table here.
Within our Apprenticeship services, we continue to work with employers, providers and assessment organisations under Skills England’s new Group of Persons structure. A revised Rail Engineering Operative apprenticeship will launch this summer with infrastructure and operations pathways, while new Level 3 standards, including Track Maintenance, Lineside and Drainage, and Engineering Maintenance Technician, will gradually replace the current Rail Engineering Technician apprenticeship over the next two years.
Work is also progressing on the new Train Driver apprenticeship standard, expected in Autumn 2026, alongside Skills England assessment reforms that keep safety and quality at the forefront. These changes build on a strong apprenticeship programme that continues to support greater EDI across the rail sector. If you would like to find out more about how we can support your organisation through these changes, please get in touch.
Railway 200 is coming to a close after a fantastic calendar of events, activities, competitions and of course, the Inspiration train that ends its journey in Scarborough next month. Our sector-led initiative, Routes into Rail, was proud to support this monumental celebration, particularly through our partnership with Worldline to redevelop the Routes into Rail site. As part of this landmark 200th year of rail, the team at Worldline has dedicatedly worked with us to create a more accessible, engaging and intelligent website to help guide young people into rail careers. Keep an eye out for more exciting developments to the site soon, and read the full Railway 200 press release here.