Great Western Railway Named Among England's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers
By Education Correspondent
Great Western Railway (GWR) has been named among England’s top 100 apprenticeship employers, recognising its commitment to creating career opportunities and developing future railway talent.
The train operator has been included in the Government’s Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings, produced in partnership with careers platform Higherin, which celebrate organisations delivering outstanding apprenticeship programmes.
The rankings assess employers across three key areas: apprentice achievement, commitment to providing diverse opportunities, and the overall apprentice experience.
With more than 70,000 employers in England offering apprenticeships, GWR Human Resources Director Ashley Bray said the recognition was a significant achievement.
Ashley said:
"It’s another achievement we can be immensely proud of. To be recognised alongside some of the country’s leading employers reflects the dedication of our teams and, most importantly, the talent and commitment of our apprentices.
"Combined with becoming the first train operator to achieve Platinum accreditation for our apprenticeship programme, this recognition reinforces our commitment to creating real opportunities for diverse young people from our local communities to build rewarding careers in the railway."
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Earlier this year, GWR became the UK’s first train operator to achieve Platinum status in the Investors in People ‘We Invest in Apprentices’ accreditation.
The company now offers more than 17 apprenticeship programmes across its network, supporting more than 300 apprentices in roles including engineering, customer service, train operations and management.
GWR Learning and Development Manager Andrew Perry said the recognition reflected the progress made since the company launched its first apprenticeship programme.
He said:
"To be recognised as one of the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers is fantastic recognition of everyone’s hard work and the positive experiences our apprentices have throughout their journey with us."
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GWR’s apprenticeship programme began in partnership with Exeter College, with vocational apprenticeships launched in 2016 and further opportunities introduced in 2020 to help existing colleagues gain recognised qualifications alongside their roles.
One apprentice benefiting from the programme is 22-year-old Sophie Carter from Plymouth, who was recently named the winner of GWR’s inaugural Sir Andrew Haines Apprentice of the Year Award.
Starting as a Customer Service apprentice, Sophie progressed to a Driver Manager Apprenticeship while completing further qualifications and leading a project to create a train crewed entirely by current and former apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week.
Sophie said:
"It’s brilliant to see GWR recognised as one of England's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers because it reflects the genuine investment the company makes in its apprentices.
"I’ve been given opportunities I never imagined, from developing new skills and gaining qualifications to leading projects that have made a real difference. It’s a place where you’re encouraged to grow, challenged to achieve your potential and supported every step of the way."
