East Midlands Railway (EMR) is urging young people to apply for its pioneering rail apprenticeship pilot before the window shuts on Sunday 1 November. The GBR Rail Foundation Apprenticeships are a new entry route into the rail industry, run with industry partners including the Department for Transport and Network Rail, with the first cohort due to start in January 2027.

Who the programme is for

The programme is open to young people aged 17 to 24. Over 12 months, participants gain practical workplace experience alongside structured learning, covering railway operations, safety and security, customer service, performance, and health, wellbeing and resilience. The aim is to give a broad foundation for a railway career, with successful participants able to progress into further rail apprenticeships or permanent employment.

A wider national scheme

The EMR pilot sits inside a bigger national push. The government has confirmed that up to 600 young people aged 16 to 21 will enrol on rail foundation apprenticeships over the next four years as Great British Railways takes shape, with its new headquarters in Derby. Ministers frame the scheme as part of the Youth Guarantee, giving every young person the chance to earn or learn at a time when fewer than 7% of the railway workforce is under 25.

How to apply

Interested applicants should apply through EMR's own jobs page before the 1 November deadline: 2026-RFA Rail Foundation Apprenticeship — Jobs at East Midlands Railway. Because the pilot is aimed at 17 to 24-year-olds, applicants should check the age and eligibility details on the official listing before submitting.