Stanmore College Launches Successful Railway Engineering Skills Bootcamp

Stanmore College has proudly launched its new Railway Engineering Skills Bootcamp, developed in partnership with Rail Futures, to help address a growing skills shortage within London’s rail sector.

The initiative, which forms part of the Mayor of London’s Skills Bootcamps for Londoners programme, has already attracted strong interest from local residents keen to gain hands-on training and employment opportunities within the transport industry.

Meeting London’s Demand for Skilled Rail Engineers

The UK rail industry is currently facing a shortfall of around 5,000 skilled workers, particularly within the London Underground and Network Rail networks. With an ageing workforce and several major infrastructure projects underway, the demand for rail engineering operatives has never been higher.

Stanmore College’s new Railway Engineering Skills Bootcamp provides a direct route into this fast-growing sector. It is designed for both unemployed individuals and those with some prior rail experience who wish to gain additional competencies and progress into work on the London Underground.

Supported by the Mayor of London’s Skills for Life Initiative

The Railway Engineering Bootcamp is part of the Mayor of London’s Skills Bootcamps for Londoners, funded through the Government’s Skills for Life initiative. These bootcamps are designed to help adults gain the skills employers need now and secure good jobs in growing sectors such as transport, construction, and digital technologies.

They are free for eligible learners and provide a guaranteed job interview upon completion — helping Londoners upskill, reskill, and progress in their careers.

A Growing Partnership for the Future

Stanmore College and Rail Futures are committed to continuing their collaboration to deliver training that meets the needs of employers and supports local people into sustainable employment. Future cohorts are already planned.

A Practical Route to Employment

Delivered in partnership with Rail Futures, the programme offers free, intensive training over several weeks and focuses on practical, industry-recognised qualifications. Learners train in core rail disciplines including Permanent Way, Signalling, and Plant, while also gaining valuable on-site experience.

Upon completion, participants receive:

• London Underground Medical Certification

• NSAR (National Skills Academy for Rail) Competencies

• Skills to work on both London Underground and Network Rail infrastructure

• Additional ‘seasonal’ qualifications such as De-Vegetation Tickets, helping increase employability and earning potential

These additional qualifications go beyond what is typically achieved in a standard Level 2 programme, giving learners a competitive edge in the job market.

Boosting Employability and Building Careers

Graduates of the bootcamp are guaranteed an interview with a rail employer, creating a clear pathway from training to work.
The first cohort of learners has already seen impressive engagement and positive feedback, with many participants praising the course’s balance of classroom learning and hands-on experience.