We recently brought together early careers professionals, senior industry leaders and expert speakers for the HSRG Apprentice Network Conference. This annual event is a flagship part of HSRG’s commitment to supporting, connecting and championing the next generation of talent working to deliver the UK’s high-speed rail ambitions, and was this year hosted by Align JV at HS2 South Portal near Rickmansworth.
Connecting Apprentices Across the Sector
Our Apprentice Network was launched with two key aims:
- To connect apprentices and graduates working across the high-speed rail supply chain, providing opportunities to meet, share experiences, and build professional networks.
- To create a platform through which early careers professionals can inform HSRG’s work, contribute to our communications, and advocate for their peers in the industry.
This year’s event built on those foundations, with an agenda designed to inspire, inform, and empower.
A Shared Mission: Skills and Growth
The day began with a keynote from Sarah Maclean, CEO of Skills England, who highlighted the critical role of skills in driving national productivity and regional growth. She emphasised that major infrastructure projects like high-speed rail offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to align training with local needs and create long-term economic benefits. Sarah also praised the quality of employer-led training offered through rail apprenticeships and the success of the HSRG Apprentice Network in showcasing how early careers professionals can help shape the future of the sector.
Sustainability, Technology and Social Value
Delegates then took part in an interactive session led by Align JV apprentices and Environmental Advisor Alice Williams, exploring real-world approaches to sustainability, environmental mitigation and social value on a live construction site. These workshops provided insight into the practical challenges of delivering sustainable infrastructure – and the leadership role apprentices are already playing.
The afternoon programme featured inspiring contributions from Hitachi-Alstom High-Speed Joint Venture apprentices, who shared their experiences of working on one of the most advanced high-speed fleets in the world. Their stories demonstrated how apprenticeships offer genuine routes into high-impact, cutting-edge work.
Championing Career Journeys and Innovation
Later in the day, a panel of HSRG leaders – including @John Downer, @David Taylor and @Suzanne Mathieson – shared reflections on their own career paths in rail, chaired by Jack Rhodes, an Advanced Apprentice at Alstom. Their message was clear: there is no single route into rail, and apprenticeships are a vital entry point into a wide range of roles across the sector.
The event closed with a presentation from Disney Schembri, Siemens Mobility, who spoke on digital transformation and innovation in rail delivery, drawing from her experience on the East Coast Digital Programme. She reinforced how emerging technologies are unlocking new efficiencies across the rail system – and why the skills and creativity of younger professionals are central to that change.
Investing in the Workforce of Tomorrow
We closed the event with reflections on the energy, ambition and insight shown by every apprentice in the room. “The people we heard from today aren’t just preparing for the future of rail – they are actively shaping it. That’s why we remain committed to building the Apprentice Network as a platform for professional growth, peer-to-peer learning and industry advocacy.”
If you’re an apprentice, graduate or early careers professional working within one of our member companies and would like to join the HSRG Apprentice Network, please get in touch.