In an effort to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce, ScotRail is participating in several initiatives that aim to break down stereotypes and attract more disabled people, women, and members of the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic community into working on the railway.
Traditionally, the railway's workforce has been dominated by older, white males. ScotRail and the wider railway industry is now working to change that perspective.
As part of its early careers strategy, ScotRail is looking to increase the number of apprentices tenfold by 2025. To help achieve its target, last year ScotRail took on 16 young people in Modern Apprenticeship roles, which was the highest intake of apprentices in the past five years. Among them was Ross Henderson, ScotRail's first Modern Apprentice who is deaf.
Hoping that it would encourage more people from all backgrounds to consider apprenticeships as a viable career path, as well as a career on the railway, ScotRail partnered with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) to tell Ross's story during the International Week of Deaf People that ran from 19th to 25th September.
Ross is a Customer Service Modern Apprentice based in Aberdeen. He joined ScotRail in August 2021 after seeing an apprenticeship advertised on www.apprenticeships.scot. Since then, 19-year-old Ross has seen his confidence grow and now thrives on social interaction with customers.
Skills Development Scotland, in partnership with equality organisations, works with employers to help them attract, support, and keep individuals and to create more inclusive and diverse workforces. Their latest figures show that 4,836 Modern Apprentices are in training who have self-identified as having a disability, with 3,334 of those having started an apprenticeship in the last year.
ScotRail plans to provide clear career pathways with opportunities for existing staff to take advantage of new careers programmes. The company also plans to further its engagement with Scottish schools in all the mainland local authority areas, and provide enhanced placement partnerships, graduate schemes, and intern programmes.
Employers such as ScotRail advertise hundreds of apprenticeship jobs every day across Scotland on apprenticeships.scot
Joanne Maguire, ScotRail Chief Operating Officer, said: “Scotland's Railway is for everyone, and that extends to both our customers and our workforce.
“We're passionate about providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds. We want to show that there's a place for everyone in the rail industry, and that everyone has something to offer.
“Having had the pleasure of meeting Ross twice myself, it has been fantastic to see how much he has grown and developed since starting his Modern Apprenticeship with ScotRail, and I hope his story inspires more people to consider the railway, and apprenticeships, as a viable career path.”
Katie Hutton, Skills Development Scotland Director of National Training Programmes, said: “Employers need individuals from a range of backgrounds to develop a diverse workforce that reflects the communities they are in and serve.
“People with different abilities bring unique perspectives and experience to a business and apprenticeships support people to build on their skills and meet business needs.”
