The first cohort of Artificial Intelligence Engineering Apprentices has joined Britain’s railway.
Based in York and London, the new apprentices will combine specialist learning with hands-on experience, building the skills needed to support the safe and responsible adoption of AI across the rail industry.
This long-term, industry-wide scheme comes six months after GBRX – the strategic technology and innovation body for Great British Railways – presented its ‘Artificial Intelligence in Rail: The Industry Action Plan’ which identified capability as a key constraint for AI adoption.
The launch of the programme follows two other actions taken by GBRX since the Action Plan was unveiled:
- Setting clear priorities for where AI can have the greatest impact across rail.
- Establishing the AI Incubator Accelerator (AIIA) to connect expertise and deliver the Action Plan across the industry.
Their placements will be distributed throughout the railway industry and coordinated through the AI Incubator Accelerator (AIIA), building skills within individual organisations while strengthening capability across the sector.
The programme also supports the government’s wider drive to strengthen the rail skills pipeline. The Department for Transport recently announced that up to 600 young people aged 16 to 21 will join a new Great British Railways rail foundation apprenticeship over the next four years, with the first cohort based in Derby.
AI apprentice Kirsty Duenas, said: “I’m so excited that the AI scheme has given me the opportunity to learn about and see how AI is used in ways I didn’t even think of. I enjoy seeing it in action in the industry and it’s great to become involved with using it in that way.”
Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: “We’re investing in the future talent and expertise that will bring the rail network into the 21st century.
“These AI apprenticeships, alongside the new GBR rail foundation apprenticeships, mark the start of a new era for the sector as we work to set up Great British Railways, one where cutting-edge technology and skilled people work hand in hand to transform how our railway runs.
“This is about investing in the railway of tomorrow and I’m proud to welcome this talented first cohort on board.”
Toufic Machnouk, Managing Director of GBRX, added: “A plan on paper will not deliver our ambition, capability is the constraint and the action we are taking responds to that. We launched the AI apprenticeship programme to create sustainable skills for the future bringing together a unique blend of expertise in both AI and rail. Now, just five months later, I am proud to say that the first cohort of AI apprentices has joined Britain’s railway.”
Image credit: Network Rail
