Qualifications in place for rail infrastructure investments

EAL is launching a set of new rail qualifications in partnership with The National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering (NSARE). The qualifications are planned to meet demand for skilled workers ahead of major projects such as the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail network. This is the first time EAL has provided qualifications for the rail industry, having already established itself as a leading employer recognised awarding organisation for the manufacturing, engineering and building sectors. As part of its commitment to the industry, EAL is investing in training for all its full time External Verifiers (EVs) who work in the rail sector. Julia Chippendale (pictured), managing director of EAL, commented: "This is an exciting opportunity for EAL, building on our excellent reputation and understanding of the engineering sector, to develop innovative qualifications for the rail industry". And on the launch, Gil Howarth, chief executive of NSARE, said: "We are pleased to be working with EAL on this exciting project, to help tackle current and future skills needs within the railway engineering industry." EAL is a specialist awarding organisation for industry qualifications. It is the only awarding organisation to invest in the industries it serves and the careers of those who work within them. Through its long-term partnership with industry and focus on engineering and manufacturing, building services and related industry sectors, EAL has developed qualifications that carry weight and respect with employers and deliver real career benefits for learners, the company states. In the last five years 500,000 people in Britain have embarked on an EAL qualification and nearly three-quarters of all engineering-related qualifications in the UK are awarded by the company.