Early careers
Whether you’re just starting out on your career journey or looking to expand your experience, we have office and site based roles for people 16 upwards that will nurture your ambitions and give you endless opportunities to develop professionally and personally.
Apprenticeships
If you are looking to develop your skills whilst earning, then an apprenticeship is ideal. Depending on your career path, you can apply from the age of 16, and each takes between one and five years to complete, depending on the level, skill and sector you wish to work in.
Apprenticeships for roles that include trackside working, such as our engineering apprenticeships, have a have a minimum age of 18, and we regularly host and attend events at secondary schools to help students and parents better understand the minimum age requirements and which qualifications are required to enroll.
Our apprentices work alongside mentors to gain specific skills, as well as receiving classroom-based learning through a formal college programme, to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
Work placements and experience
Work placements are a fantastic way to get hands on experience whilst learning more about the rail sector, and we offer a number of opportunities, including, day, week, summer and one year placements.
Our day and week placements provide a whistle stop tour of the business, where you can meet different people and learn all about the many roles across the sector.
Our one year placement programme provides focus on technical skills and the progression towards increasing responsibility. Students take a leading role and are given the opportunity to see the lifecycle of our projects, whilst also given the freedom to offer new ideas and ways of working, to help us move forward. Students receive regular feedback on their progress, and - depending on their degree outcome - are offered a role with us after their university studies.
To enquire about a placement opportunity please complete our Education Engagement request form.
Scunthorpe depot
To showcase our plant, students visit our depot in Scunthorpe to learn more about the machines and the career opportunities available.
Hope Valley visit
We also take groups of students and new starters to our projects, allowing them to visit an active work site and learn more about the work we undertake.
Academies
Employees wanting further education are offered learning through professional qualifications, industry competences, ILM qualification courses, or through one of our academies – commercial, project management, engineer, HSQES and rail operations.
Our academies give you the opportunity to develop a career in commercial, project management, HSQES, engineering or site safety roles, and each is tailored with a specific educational development pathway to equips learners with the right skills to advance their career.
Rail Operations Academy
In June 2023, VolkerRail welcomed its first cohort of railway operatives, as part of a newly launched Rail Operations Academy, designed to develop the next generation of safety critical workers, who together, will support the businesses needs.
