{"id":418007,"date":"2026-04-30T20:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/railuk.com\/?p=192766"},"modified":"2026-04-30T20:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:04:40","slug":"new-alstom-programme-enhances-job-prospects-for-those-with-learning-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=418007","title":{"rendered":"New Alstom programme enhances job prospects for those with learning disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alstom has announced that it has launched its first supported internship programme \u2013 ASPIRE. The scheme is supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through real workplace experience with structured support at the company\u2019s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Research reveals only 4.8% of individuals with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition in England are in permanent paid employment. Alstom\u2019s supported internship programme provides the opportunity to achieve sustained, paid employment by equipping individuals with the skills they need through hands-on learning in the workplace.<\/p>\n

In collaboration with Derby College \u2013 which provides a job coach and classroom-based learning in parallel to the internship \u2013 the students are working alongside colleagues from Alstom\u2019s Training Academy, with the latter delivering bespoke teaching that will enhance their work experience. Specifically, the interns are working on Alstom\u2019s CrossCountry Voyager refurbishment project which is seeing the operator\u2019s Class 220 and Class 221 trains receiving an interior refresh \u2013 including new seats and tables \u2013 while their exteriors are being repainted in a new livery.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been genuinely impressed by the interns\u2019 knowledge of both historic and modern rolling stock \u2013 it\u2019s clear they\u2019re passionate about what they\u2019re doing, and it\u2019s a joy to have them on board,\u201d said Nina Atwal, head of social value UK and Ireland at Alstom.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking with Derby College has already shown how powerful collaboration can be, especially when it comes to creating meaningful opportunities for underrepresented groups. I\u2019m excited to watch our first group of interns grow at Alstom \u2013 not just gaining valuable work experience, but also building life skills, confidence, and self-belief that will help them thrive and move into paid employment.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cIt\u2019s also a pleasure to be working on our first supported internship programme with such passionate colleagues at Alstom who want to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

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CrossCountry Voyager refurbishment programme underway at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Credit: Steve Bright<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Valued at around \u00a360 million, the CrossCountry Voyager project encompasses 312 cars that are being fitted with new carpets, improved lighting and a new passenger counting system. The interns are supporting the mechanical and electrical works scopes of the refurbishment project.<\/p>\n

Owned by Beacon Rail, which is funding the upgrade, the Voyagers operate across the CrossCountry network, from Aberdeen, Scotland, to Penzance, England.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delighted to be part of Alstom\u2019s new supported internship programme, which will provide brilliant opportunities for Derby College students with special education needs and disabilities through real workplace experience,\u201d said Amanda Hopkins, Management Development Advisor at CrossCountry.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying their part in the refurbishment of our Voyager fleet will be the perfect springboard for the students on their journey into the rail industry \u2013 we look forward to working with them now and hopefully into the future.\u201d <\/p>\n

Students Aaron Donaldson and Harry Hedges are the first interns to take part in Alstom\u2019s ASPIRE programme. Aaron was selected by Derby College for his engineering abilities, knowledge of trains and his keen focus on securing his future with employment. Meanwhile, Harry has a keen appreciation in rail that has spanned his entire life, from an interest in model trains as a child to now volunteering at Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.<\/p>\n

In summer 2025 the interns were welcomed to the site for the first time alongside their Derby College tutors. During this visit they got to meet their new Alstom colleagues, learn more about the company and the site itself \u2013 Britain\u2019s largest and oldest operating train factory. Since then Aaron and Harry undertook several \u2018in touch\u2019 days before commencing their supported internships in 2026, which will last for up to one year. Alstom plans to welcome an additional four ASPIRE interns \u2013 aged between 16 and 24 \u2013 at its Deby site later this year.<\/p>\n

Image credit: CrossCountry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Alstom has announced that it has launched its first supported internship programme \u2013 ASPIRE. The scheme is supporting students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through real workplace experience with structured support at the company\u2019s historic Derby Litchurch Lane Works.\u00a0 Research reveals only 4.8% of individuals with a learning disability or autism spectrum condition [\u2026]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8202,16940,16017,47,180,2021,16018,85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-418007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-company-news","category-diversity-inclusion","category-industry-news","category-rail-news","category-rolling-stock","category-training","category-training-recruitment","category-uk"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=418007"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":418008,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418007\/revisions\/418008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=418007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=418007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=418007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}