Apprentice Engineer with WM Trains Limited
Employer: WM Trains Limited
Learning Provider: Delivered by Birmingham Metropolitan College
Contracted Provider: Birmingham Metropolitan College
Learning Delivery Site: Birmingham Metropolitan College, Aldridge Road, Great Barr, B44 8NE
Working Week: 37hrs Mon-Fri 8:45am-5:00pm
First year at college
Annual Wage: £21,348
Key Dates:
Closing Date for Applications: 11th March 2026
Start Date: 7th September 2026
Are you inquisitive, creative and a collaborative worker? Do you believe there is no box for you to think outside of? Are you a tenacious and resilient individual who has an innovative approach to solving problems? If you said yes to these questions, you may be an ideal candidate for the WM Trains Limited Engineering Apprenticeship scheme.
As one of our Apprentice Engineers, you’ll be responsible for servicing mechanical and electrical systems on our trains. The role is highly varied, and duties can include repairing, overhauling and modifying our trains, inspecting bodywork and under-carriages for wear and tear and writing reports and maintenance records.
This work will range from carrying out routine maintenance/servicing to repairing and fault finding on complex electrical and mechanical components used in the modern rail industry today.
This is a fantastic time to join WM Trains Limited and begin an exciting, rewarding and creative career.
Training to be Provided:
Initially you will spend some time with us at Tyseley Depot as part of your company induction prior to starting at the college, full time in the first year but being a weekly day release in years 2 to 4. This will be based at BMET’s James Watt Campus (Aldridge Road, Great Barr, B44 8NE).
As a WM Trains Limited Engineering Technician Apprentice, you will undertake a full-time mix of classroom and vocational training and gain experience which will lead to you gaining a competence-based rail qualification and a knowledge-based rail qualification (i.e. Technical Certificate).
Apprenticeship Standard:
Rail Engineering Technician ST0318 (Traction and Rolling Stock)
Expected Duration: 4 Years
You must have minimum of 3 GCSEs grade C/4 or above (or equivalent qualifications) which include Maths, English and Science/Technology related subject, or on track to achieve this in the academic year 2025/26.
Personal Qualities:
- Customer focused
- Polite, friendly and excellent team player
- Good communication skills
- Able to use own initiative when appropriate
- High standard of personal presentation
- Numerate and literate
- Computer literate
Alongside your practical and educational training, there are plenty of other activities you can get involved in. Our Apprentices have spoken to audiences of local and national Politicians, Members of Parliament and have also appeared on national television!
Join us and not only will you become part of a renowned group of professionals, but you will also look forward to gaining specialist and transferable skills as well as a wide variety of career progression opportunities.
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A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
- Free travel on all London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
- A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)- A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing
- Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
- A retail discount portal- offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.
London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway operate rail services across the Midlands, the Northwest and London, with Birmingham at the heart of our network.
West Midlands Railway provides most of the local services across the region, offering direct connections to towns and cities including Redditch, Stratford‑upon‑Avon, Worcester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and Northampton. Our London Northwestern Railway brand serves the route between London and Liverpool via key locations such as Crewe, Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Northampton.
On 1st February 2026, London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway entered public ownership and both services are now part of WM Trains Limited operated by DFTO. Our mission remains unchanged: to provide a safe, comfortable and reliable service for passengers across 235 miles of track and 150 stations, from London to Liverpool and Hereford to Lichfield.
We expect over 80 million journeys to be made this year, that’s more than 1,252 services every day, and we remain committed to delivering the rail experience our passengers expect.
