Train operator Northern has topped the list of UK rail operators in the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers’.
Entering at 24th place overall, Northern has matched the highest place ever achieved by a train operating company on its debut entry into the rankings.
The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers is one of the UK’s most authoritative assessments of employer excellence in apprenticeships, evaluating organisations on the quality, breadth and impact of their programmes.
Northern’s 24th place finish puts it comfortably among the country’s leading apprenticeship employers across all sectors.
The ranking also places Northern ahead of every other rail operator in this year’s list, and signals the growing strength of Northern’s investment in apprenticeship talent across the North of England.
Tricia Williams, managing director for Northern, said: “We are incredibly proud to have matched the highest ever ranking for a train operating company in the Sunday Times Top 100, and to have done it on our very first entry makes this even more special.
“This result reflects the dedication of our apprentices and the teams who support them every step of the way. Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful routes into our industry, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to opening those doors to as many people as possible.”
Northern’s apprenticeship programme forms a central part of the operator’s wider ambition to build a diverse, skilled workforce and bring the next generation into the rail industry. The operator currently has over 800 live apprenticeships across a range of disciplines.
Image credit: Northern