As part of Scottish Careers Week (10–14 November), ScotRail is celebrating its largest-ever apprentice and graduate intake and showcasing the wide range of career opportunities now available across Scotland’s Railway.
On Thursday, 13 November, the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP, visited ScotRail’s Shields Depot in Glasgow to meet apprentices and graduates, hear about their training and career ambitions, and learn more about the positive impact of ScotRail’s early careers programme.
This year, ScotRail welcomed 50 new apprentices and graduates – the highest number in the company’s history – which took the total number of apprentices and graduates across the business to 93.
The early careers programmes are designed to ensure opportunities are accessible to people from all backgrounds, reflecting ScotRail’s commitment to building a workforce that represents the communities it serves.
Opportunities are open to school leavers, college and university students, and existing colleagues seeking to upskill, combining hands-on experience, structured mentoring, and formal qualifications across a range of disciplines including engineering, customer service, finance, administration, commercial, and communications.
Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “I am pleased to mark Scottish Careers Week as it provides a genuine opportunity to showcase the variety of different industry sectors in Scotland and particularly the broad range of fantastic careers across Scotland’s Railway for people of all ages.
“ScotRail now has more apprentices than ever and that is a sign of commitment across government and the industry to develop skills and talent. It’s great to meet with many young people at the start of their railway careers and to hear from employers and training organisations who will help steer the careers of future industry leaders.”
Julie Dale, ScotRail HR Director, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to have welcomed our largest-ever intake of apprentices and graduates in 2025 – it’s a real investment in the future of Scotland’s railway.
“Our early careers programmes offer a fantastic route into the industry, with each new start bringing fresh energy, ideas, and ambition to our business.
“We’re working hard to break down barriers and expand access to opportunities right across Scotland, and we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of engineers, customer service colleagues, and business professionals.”
Image credit: ScotRail
