Delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, the competition will back new technologies aimed at modernising Britain’s railways ahead of the creation of Great British Railways.
The ‘Ignite a Change’ programme lets staff put forward suggestions to solve business challenges.
Jacqui Carr, CEO at Health Shield, said: “With our shared railway heritage, it has been a privilege to collaborate on initiatives that positively impact the railway community."
The apprenticeship is open to anyone aged 16 and above with Level 4 or higher in GCSE English, Maths and Science.
Over the past three years, c2c recruited 18 young people into permanent roles through its work experience partnership with The King’s Trust, ‘Get into Rail’.
The scheme aims to help fill rail skills shortages and cut reoffending by giving prisoners a chance to earn a Level 2 rail engineering qualification before release.
The ‘Never Mind the Gap’ scheme, run with Women in Rail, gave a small group free training and placements to learn about roles in the industry.
Hundreds of TSSA members will walk out on 18th July and 19th July 2025.
The programme offers students aged 14 to 18 from local schools the chance to learn about the railway and the different job opportunities within the sector.
The apprentices started their nine-month training course this week, which covers both theory and practical skills delivered by the Lumo team.
Steve Scrimshaw received a CBE and Donna Mitchell has received a British Empire Medal for services to safety for young people.
Sharon Graham said: “We are pleased to have successfully negotiated this deal which helps to drive up jobs, pay and conditions in Scotland’s rail industry.”