Rail Apprentice

Amey; Bedford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Fully funded Level 3 apprenticeship

Mentoring and learning support

Flexible working patterns

Job summary

Amey is recruiting an Overhead Line Operative Apprentice in Bedford within the Transport Infrastructure unit. You will train on-site and at college, supporting OLE construction under supervision while gaining hands-on experience.

You will join a structured 39‑month Rail Engineering Technician Level 3 apprenticeship, with mentoring, e‑learning and real projects across the UK. Departure dates and shift patterns include occasional weekends and night work.

Qualifications

• Must be eligible for Level 3 Rail Engineering Technician apprenticeship.
• If under 19 years with no Maths or English, must complete functional skills.
• Applicants must be at least 18 to be eligible for consideration.

Responsibilities

• Work as directed by supervisor or construction manager at assigned site.
• Support site surveys and check installations against design.
• Prepare materials ahead of site work.
• Attend planning, progress and technical meetings as directed.
• Undertake Level 3 apprenticeship programme and related training.
• Occasional weekend and night duties may be required.
• Identify risks and ensure controls are in place to protect safety.

Skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

Rail Engineering Technician Level 3 apprenticeship

Job description

We have a fantastic opportunity for an Overhead Line Operative Apprentice to join our Eastern & Southern account within Amey's Transport Infrastructure Business Unit, based in Bedford. Whether you are leaving school, finishing college or looking for a new direction, this is a great place to start building your future career.

Starting Salary: £24,920.81 per annum (Subject to review)

Location : Bedford

Working hours per week: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, 37.5 hours per week. Occasional weekend and night site work will be classed as overtime.

Start date : April 2027

Apprenticeship Link: Rail engineering technician / Skills England

As part of your apprenticeship, you will be enrolled on a Rail Engineering Technician Level 3 apprenticeship, which will take approximately 39 months to complete. You will be fully supported by our partnered college and your Amey team, with one-to-one advice, e-learning materials, mentoring and experienced colleagues on hand to help you learn, ask questions and build your technical knowledge.

About the team:

Join our supportive and inclusive community in Eastern & Southern working on diverse projects that make a real positive impact across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Amey's rail delivery team and help develop the next generation of railway overhead line equipment (OLE) construction professionals. Working alongside experienced OLE engineers, you will be an integral part of the team and supported to develop your engineering skills. Amey operates nationwide, so the role will involve a mix of site and office work on schemes across the UK with clients and technology partners.

You will be surrounded by a team of people who want you to grow and embrace new challenges. People who care about your job satisfaction as well as your wellbeing. There’ll be original experiences, in a career that can feel like many rolled into one. Whether it’s learning to get to grips with the latest technology or just working with a great group of people every day, you’ll find what gets you out of bed in the morning at Amey.

What you will do:

• Work as directed by the supervisor or construction manager at your assigned site.
• Support detailed site surveys and check installations against the design.
• Support the preparation of materials ahead of site work.
• Discuss construction and constructability issues with the construction team.
• Follow all safety-critical processes, including the Rule Book and safe systems of work.
• Refer installation issues to the supervisor or engineer on site.
• Attend planning, progress and technical meetings as directed.
• Attend all required training and induction courses, including the Level 3 apprenticeship programme.
• Undertake weekend and night duties in line with the roster.
• Identify foreseeable risks and ensure suitable controls are in place.
• Ensure construction work meets the required quality standards and complete on-site quality checks.

Safety Specific Responsibilities

• Always behave and work safely.
• Only carry out tasks that you are competent and trained to undertake.
• Always report fit for duty.
• Always wear the mandatory personal protective equipment for the task.
• Participate in monthly safety meetings with the Engineering Manager, leads and CREs.
• Report all accidents and incidents and raise any close calls.
• Participate in accident and incident reporting and investigation as instructed and in accordance with the safety management system.
• Maintain accurate site records.
• Support safety critical or safety of the line activities.

What you will bring:

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, keen tolearnand ready to build their confidence in a supportive team.

• If under 19 years with no Maths & or English, candidate will have to complete functional skills.
• Full UK driving licence.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be eligible for consideration, due to the nature of the work associated with this account.

Please note that successful applicants will be required to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, in line with our commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant working environment.

Please upload your certificates, predicted grades or achieved qualifications with your application, as we will shortlist based on this information. Any offer of employment is conditional upon meeting the required academic criteria. If you experience any issues uploading documents, please contact our People Services team.

Why join Amey?

At Amey, we work on long-term stable contracts so you can plan a long-term career with us. We have been awarded Platinum status by Investors in People which underscores our commitment to supporting our people across every part of our organisation, enabling them to shine. Whether you are starting your career, returning to the workplace or can bring your professional expertise and skills, there is a place for you here.

Our benefits are designed to help you thrive at work and in your home life. You will have the flexibility to choose benefits and development opportunities that are best for you.

• Earn while you learn: Enjoy a competitive annual salary with the potential for yearly reviews to ensure you’re rewarded for your contributions
• All-round support: You will be supported throughout your apprenticeship by your manager, colleagues, learning provider and our wider Early Careers community.
• Career Growth: Throughout your programme, you will receive first-class mentoring and a structured learning and development programme to enable your professional and personal development.
• Training Opportunities: Unlock your potential with comprehensive training, including fully funded leadership programmes tailored to your personal growth.
• Career pathways: Your apprenticeship can open the door to future roles across Amey, helping you build a long-term career after yourprogramme.
• Holidays - Enjoy 24 days leave plus bank holidays and the opportunity to buy more
• Pension - Generous pension scheme, with extra contributions from Amey
• Flexible working - Work-life balance and flexibility are key for our success. We empower our people to make choices that are right for them, with hybrid, part-time and flexible work patterns open for discussion.
• Flexible benefits – Customise your benefits with options such as insurance benefits, Cycle2Work scheme and access to discounted gym membership.
• Exclusive Discounts - Access our online portal filled with discounts from leading retailers, healthcare services, and more, helping you save on the things that matter.
• Social Value – you will get two Social Impact Days each year to volunteer for a charity of your choice and further opportunities to support fundraising initiativesand, where eligible, participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
• Family friendly policies for new parents or if you provide care for a dependant
• Membership of our Affinity Networks who connect, support and inspire diverse communities within Amey

About Amey

Amey is a global, integrated infrastructure consultancy and operations partner. We design, deliver, protect, andmaintaincritical assets and systems.

We advise, design, finance, deliver, and enhance civic, transport, and defence systems. By combining strategic intelligence, engineering, infrastructure finance, and operationalexpertise, we create secure, resilient, compliant, and high-value outcomes across the lifecycles of new and legacy assets.

What truly defines Amey is our commitment to people. Our business is only as strong as the individuals who power it, and our greatest asset is our team. If you're ready to learn, grow and start building a career with real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

To find out more take a look at our website Early careers | Amey

Application Guidance and Diversity & Inclusion

At Amey we constantly evolve how we work to reflect the different needs and backgrounds of our employees. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to shine.

As a disability confident leader, we’re proud to guarantee applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Please contact our recruitment team at [e-mail] to discuss any access needs, reasonable adjustments or additional support that you may require at any point during the recruitment process.