Keeping steam locomotives working is an expanding business with a lack of skilled people to fill current jobs available, so this type of training can lead to good job opportunities across the UK. As well as maintaining Britain's great transport heritage, working on historic machinery provides excellent engineering training. Additionally the skills you will learn are applicable to most types of engineering not just steam. The West Somerset Railway, Minehead, Somerset in partnership with the Boiler and Engineering Skills Training Trust is offering two 12-14 month paid training placements for Trainee Steam Mechanical Engineers.
You do not need any previous experience and we would welcome applications from all people, young or older from any part of the UK who would like to gain both training and hands on engineering experience. In fact we are looking for people who are "new" to the heritage world and we particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups such as women, ethnic minorities and people from a disadvantaged background. Anyone over 18 can apply to the scheme. You will need to live, move to or be able to stay within a commutable distance of Minehead in West Somerset.
Your salary will be £11,000 at 18 years old or £15,000 at 22 years or over, plus you will receive a further £3,000 upon completion of the course.
The West Somerset Railway is a thriving and large Heritage Steam Railway with around 50 paid employees and 1,000 volunteers. It has a large, fully equipped locomotive workshop and machine shop in Minehead with space undercover to repair locomotives and maintain the running fleet necessary to run an intensive daily steam passenger service. As Engineering Trainee you will be working on the full range of repairs and maintenance ranging from engines under full rebuild through to daily servicing and repairs, this will give you a range of practical experience in all engineering disciplines working alongside a team of very experienced Engineers.
If this is of interest please apply to this ad or contact Andy Norman of Andy Norman Associates. Andy is also a volunteer at the WSR and is pleased to be providing this recruitment free of charge to the WSR in order to help find the right people to take advantage of this rare opportunity. In the first instance there will be an informal chat with you to explain the opportunity further and if you are happy with what you hear we can progress you further or arrange for you to come and visit the WSR.