Transport for London (TfL) announced that it will begin recruiting up to 100 graduate trainees in areas including engineering, project management, technical and corporate roles. Depending on their subject, graduates will spend up to three years as trainees with TfL. TfL welcomed 86 graduate trainees in September 2012.

The new roles have been made available as TfL continues its huge upgrade of London’s transport network. The multi-billion pound investment programme is delivering a faster, more efficient and comprehensive transport network and requires a highly skilled and trained workforce. The graduate scheme at TfL provides a hands-on opportunity for the new recruits to take part in the upgrade programme and a fantastic learning curve. Those interested can apply from 8 October 2012 at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/graduates/default.asp

The graduates will join teams at various sites across the Capital. They will be involved in all aspects of TfL’s work including projects like the Victoria Station upgrade, Barclays Cycle Hire, Northern Line Extension and London Overground among many other TfL services.

TfL is an employer committed to developing and maintaining the skills and talents of its workforce. With the current skills shortage in the transport industry, TfL is working to address the shortage by training its own workforce for now and the future.

TfL currently employs more than 24,000 employees directly and tens of thousands more through its suppliers. Many of these are in highly skilled roles and TfL has a vital role to play in ensuring these skills are maintained and passed on to the future. Within the last two financial years, 135 graduate roles have been created in TfL, with 86 graduates enrolling in September 2012.

Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy CBE said: ‘TfL, along with the Mayor and our suppliers, are all committed to offering fantastic opportunities both on our graduate and apprenticeship schemes. The transport industry needs highly motivated recruits and we can offer a long and fulfilling career with world-class training. I know, as I started as a Graduate Trainee in 1975.

‘The Tube upgrade and Crossrail are firmly on track, so this is a particularly exciting time to join TfL. We have been working closely with our supply chain to ensure the industry has the highly skilled workforce needed to deliver the huge upgrade of London’s transport network.’

Within the last three financial years, more than 2,500 apprenticeship roles have been created through TfL and its supply chain. This forms part of the Mayor’s commitment to create apprenticeships for Londoners. So far this financial year, TfL has taken on more than 500 apprentices. The next recruitment round for apprentices for TfL will be in spring 2013 and will be available on the TfL website.http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/jobs/17128.aspx                                

Highways Technician apprentice at TfL, Gregory Thame, said: ‘Like many young people today, it was my expectation that after school I would attend university. After my first year at university, I realised that it wasn’t the path for me. Looking for an alternative, my dad suggested an apprenticeship. Since finding the highways technician apprenticeship I haven’t looked back.

‘I am thoroughly enjoying my job, while at the same time studying for management and civil engineering qualifications. It has been a steep learning curve but I have learnt a lot, gained invaluable experience, discovered new areas of interest, and I am very much looking forward to the future.’

Since 2007, TfL has consistently appeared in the Graduate Times 100 list for best companies to work for, voted for by graduates, it is also recognised by the National Apprenticeship Service as one of the top 100 Apprenticeship Employers. TfL also offers a variety of training to all staff at three main training sites in West Kensington, Acton and Stratford to strengthen their skills.

The GLA Group’s Supplier Skills Team (SST) has assisted in developing a programme tailored to the skills needs of TfL and its supply chain, as well as supporting the opportunity to bring young talent into the industry. In the last financial year, more than 40 TfL suppliers have worked closely with the SST creating over 1,000 jobs for unemployed Londoners and over 800 apprenticeship opportunities. As a result of this joint approach Vital Rail, a TfL supplier has recently successfully recruited more than 70 young NEET’s (Not in employment, education or training) as Track Maintenance Apprentices.

TfL’s suppliers will create 650 apprenticeship roles this financial year. These cover a variety of disciplines and they include roles in civil engineering and building services engineering, quantity surveying and vehicle maintenance and repair engineering apprenticeships.