







Kick‑start an exciting engineering career that helps keep Scotland’s railways moving. On this four‑year Rail Apprenticeship, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to maintain and repair our fleet of on‑track machines (OTMs), which play a critical role in ensuring the rail network remains safe, reliable and efficient. About the programme Our On Track Engineering Technician Apprenticeship offers a structured blend of academic learning and practical experience within railway engineering. You’ll play a part in maintaining and operating essential on‑track machinery that supports national rail infrastructure and helps keep services running smoothly for customers and the public. Your first six months will be spent full‑time at college, where you’ll build a strong foundation in engineering principles, systems and safety. After this initial phase, your learning continues through a mix of on‑site practical training and one day per week of college study. Day to day, you’ll shadow experienced engineers and fitters, gradually taking on supervised tasks such as routine inspections, system checks, basic repairs and operational support across a range of OTMs. You’ll also take part in safety briefings, planned maintenance, diagnostic activities, and exercises designed to help you understand how faults are identified and resolved. Throughout the programme, you’ll gain exposure to a wide variety of engineering work, including machine calibration, track‑surveying support, asset maintenance and reliability improvement projects. You’ll work directly on Babcock’s specialist fleet, gaining experience with the equipment used to maintain, measure and adjust track infrastructure across the rail network. By the end of the apprenticeship, you’ll have developed strong mechanical, electrical and hydraulic engineering knowledge, as well as skills in fault‑finding, maintenance, safe working practices, communication and teamwork. Along the way, you’ll also gain important professional behaviours including problem‑solving, attention to detail and a clear focus on safety.