Metronet staff praised by Society of Operations Engineers

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Friday, 11, Apr 2008 12:00

Over 40 front line Tube maintenance staff have been awarded NVQ level 3 Engineering Technician qualifications approved by the respected Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) – the first in the rail industry to achieve this recognition.

The presentations, made at London’s Transport Museum, highlighted the success of Metronet Rail’s staff competency assurance programme, which has also been approved by SOE.

And guests, who included over 100 key figures from the rail industry, heard that SOE has also given accreditation approval of Metronet’s apprenticeship scheme, proving the quality of the company’s future rail engineers.

Metronet Chief Executive Officer Andie Harper said at the SOE-hosted event on 3 April: “Our focus is on maintaining and renewing the world’s best-known urban transportation system and our success depends on high-calibre, committed people.

”We have demonstrated the competency of all our staff whose work has an impact on safety, assuring high standards of safety for London Underground and the three million passengers it moves every day.

“Also, as a result of much hard work and commitment, I am pleased to announce that our apprenticeship scheme has now been accredited by the SOE.”

Nick Jones, SOE Chief Executive said: “Skilled and competent engineers working on our railways are essential for the wellbeing of the UK economy.

“With six decades of transport industry experience we are devoted to acknowledging the work of engineering professionals, and specialise in developing our members’ careers.

“Metronet’s facilities, training and workforce mirror these goals, which is very positive for London commuters.”

ENDS

For SOE enquiries and high-res images of the event, please contact:

David Jones, 020 7630 1111, david.jones@soe.org.uk

www.soe.org.uk

For Metronet enquiries, please contact:

Roger Perkins, 020 7038 5084, 07899 854 866, roger.perkins@metronetrail.com or, Amanda Claassen, 020 7038 5086, 07764 293 188, amanda.claassen@metronetrail.com. www.metronetrail.com.

Notes to editors:

Metronet

1. As part of its competency assurance programme Metronet has carried out over 9,000 individual assessments assuring the competency of all 1,600 employees identified to have a safety-critical role. Over two-thirds of these will be eligible to obtain an NVQ level 2 or 3 award should they prove competent subject to verification by an external training body.

2. The competence assurance programme has been rigorously assessed and approved by the highly-respected Society of Operations Engineering (SOE), a professional membership organisation that represents individuals and companies in the engineering industry over three professional sectors.

3. Forty-two front line maintenance staff received their awards at the SOE-hosted eventon 3 April, including chargehands, lead fitters, fitters, advanced train maintainers and multi-skilled operatives.

4. Metronet’s four-year apprenticeship scheme has 130 members.

5. Working in partnership with London Underground, Metronet Rail (in PPP Administration) has 6,000 employees with responsibility for maintaining and renewing eight of the 12 lines on the entire network – delivering new trains, new track, new signalling and refurbished and modernised stations.

6. Metronet Rail BCV is responsible for the Bakerloo, Central, Victoria and Waterloo & City lines. Metronet Rail SSL is responsible for the Metropolitan, District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines.

SOE (Society of Operations Engineers)

SOE is a professional membership organisation that represents around 17,000 individuals and companies in the engineering industry. The SOE has three professional sectors – IRTE (Institute of Road Transport Engineers), IPlantE (Institution of Plant Engineers) and BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors.)

The Society promotes safe, efficient and environmentally sustainable operations engineering to the benefit of the community at large, through the support of best practice and health and safety initiatives, a commitment to the professional development of its members and by influencing legislation and design.

SOE is a licensed member of ECUK and can register members at all three levels, CEng, IEng and EngTech.

The Engineering Council UK (ECUK)

The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) regulates the UK’s engineering profession, setting and maintaining standards of competence and ethics for engineers, technologists and technicians. It operates through 35 engineering institutions, which are licensed to assess members for inclusion on the ECUK Register of Engineers. This has three sections: Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician, titles that can only be used by registrants. ECUK also formally represents the interests of UK engineers abroad. For more information visit: www.engc.org.uk