As part of National Apprenticeship Week, apprentices based at Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village took part in a shadowing scheme with members of the senior leadership team. The experience gave apprentices valuable insights into strategic decision‑making, operational priorities, and leadership practices across the organisation.
Apprentices at the Goole Rail Village are actively involved in assembling Piccadilly line trains for Transport for London, contributing directly to Siemens Mobility’s investment in developing rail industry skills in the UK. 80% of these trains will be assembled in Goole, which is where Siemens Mobility also intends to assemble battery bi-mode trains for the UK.
The Goole Rail Village represents a significant investment of up to £240 million, creating up to 1,000 new jobs in the East Riding of Yorkshire, along with around 1,700 supply‑chain job opportunities.
The shadowing initiative was designed not only for apprentices to learn from senior leaders, but also for leaders to gain value from the fresh thinking and innovative perspectives that apprentices bring. By creating a two‑way learning environment, the programme highlighted the strength of Siemens Mobility’s apprenticeship community and underscored the important role early‑career talent plays in shaping the future of the rail industry.
Mark Speed, General Manager of Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, said:
“Our apprentices brought energy, curiosity and fresh thinking to every conversation – we learned just as much from them as they did from us.
“It’s inspiring to see the next generation of talent coming through, and I’m incredibly proud of the commitment Siemens Mobility continues to make in supporting their development, as part of our mission to transform rail travel.”
This activity demonstrates Siemens Mobility’s strong commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and positions the Goole Rail Village as a growing hub for innovation, collaboration, and long‑term skills development.
Phoebe Taylor, Level 5 Operations Management Apprentice at Siemens Mobility’s Goole Rail Village, said:
“Shadowing the leadership team has been a brilliant experience. It gave me the chance to learn directly from colleagues with years of industry knowledge, and I really valued how open they were to questions – it made the whole experience feel welcoming.
“Seeing a different side of the manufacturing environment has helped me understand how decisions are made and how everything connects behind the scenes. I’m taking a lot away from this opportunity, and it’s given me even more motivation to keep developing my skills and progressing my career at Siemens Mobility.”
The Goole Rail Village comprises of a train manufacturing facility, components facility, logistics and distribution centre, with a brand-new bogie assembly and service centre currently in construction – embedding the site as a driver of skilled jobs and economic growth across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Image credit: Siemens
