McGinley Support Services Extends Partnership with National Infrastructure Solutions (NIS) as Apprentice Milestone is Achieved in the Midlands

As one of the leading recruitment and support providers for infrastructure markets in the UK, McGinley Support Services is announcing the extension of its long-standing partnership with National Infrastructure Solutions (NIS). The partnership has already played a pivotal role in the successful training of 50 apprentices in the Midlands, and the ambitious plan is to double this figure over the next twelve months.

As a key contributor to major projects in the Midlands including HS2, McGinley has been collaborating with NIS, a Wolverhampton-based training provider, to develop and implement customised rail engineering operative and rail engineering technician apprenticeships.

What sets this partnership apart is the wraparound support provided by both organisations, which has successfully helped attract people who traditionally do not work in the sector, with the latest intake made up of 14% females (compared to 3% nationally), 51% from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds (BAME) and 6% prison leavers.

Fiona Burke, HR Director at McGinley, stated, "We are determined to use the opportunities in major projects to change lives for the better and are passionate about opening up new opportunities for individuals who may need a second chance or may never have considered a possible career in the rail and civil engineering sector."

"This vision is fast becoming a reality, especially in the Midlands where we are maximising the strategic relationship with National Infrastructure Solutions to successfully recruit over 50 apprentices and upskill our existing workers. They share our social values and have been instrumental in helping us deliver what we have so far."

NIS was initially running employability courses to facilitate transitions into rail and civil engineering when approached by McGinley to assist with the flexi-apprenticeship agency arm of its business. The initial focus was to strike a balance between theoretical and practical hands-on training to ensure that candidates are well-prepared for their NVQ Level 2 assessments and project work.

Bespoke training pathways were meticulously designed, while National Infrastructure Solutions made full use of its dedicated rail training centre in the region.

Davie Carns, founder of NIS, emphasised the importance of this apprenticeship scheme for rejuvenating an ageing workforce in the sector. “Our sector is at a tipping point when it comes to labour, with the workforce getting older and in urgent need of new blood. That’s why the apprenticeship scheme is so important and why we need to attract people that may never have considered working in our industry."

McGinley, recently recognised as a Top 100 Apprentice Employer, aims to recruit an additional 100 apprentices over the next twelve months in the Midlands. There is also a strong emphasis on offering specialised training for apprentices once they have achieved their NVQ Level 2 qualifications, with NIS finalising an offering in signalling and telecoms.

Fiona Burke emphasised, "We don’t just want a training provider that delivers the same course for everyone, we want creativity and a willingness to come up with solutions. That’s what NIS does in abundance, whether that is helping us complete job-ready sessions in prisons, delivering confidence-building sessions to help with interviews, or coming up with unique content for advanced skills."

McGinley Support Services and NIS are committed to leveraging the opportunities presented to positively impact the lives of hundreds of individuals through expert training and sustainable employment opportunities in the Midlands.

If you would like to find out more about our apprentice programme or partnerships with NIS and Wolverhampton College, or if you know of anyone who may be interested in joining our apprenticeships programme, or would like to discuss the benefits of hiring our apprentices speak to our apprenticeships team today via apprenticeships@mcginley.co.uk