L&MMR in partnership with UK rail training company EYC Global to provide training opportunities

The Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway is delighted to announce a partnership with the UK Rail Training Company EYC Global to provide hands on training opportunities on its site at Cynheidre through a kick start scheme to create job placements for 16 – 24 year olds who would otherwise be at risk of long term unemployment. Chris Jenson, who himself took up an apprenticeship when he was 20 years old, and is now a fully qualified NVQ Rail Trainer and EYC Global's Senior Training Manager ran the first nine day course at Cynheidre in March and commented ‘I am just a bloke from Doncaster who took a gamble and it paid off, if you get the chance to do an apprenticeship at any time then do it – you don’t know what doors it might open’. The eleven individuals on the first course have all been offered jobs in the Rail industry.

Kerry Verghese, Head of Operations at EYC commented ‘The course that we run is the NVQ level 2 Diploma in Rail Engineering Track Maintenance. We only run our cohort if we know that we can guarantee a job at the end of the course. We could just do a Personal Track Safety course, without the NVQ, but we feel that you don’t gain the experience and confidence to go on to have a fulfilling career in the railway by just doing that’.

LMMR Press Officer David Mee commented ‘the Llanelli and Mynydd Mawr Railway are very pleased to offer their facilities in support of this very worthwhile scheme to help young people start careers in the Rail Industry. From our point of view it is a win-win situation as we get help to maintain the running line to a high standard and it helps with our preparations to reopen after the Covid-19 lock down’. All training is carried out in accordance with Government guidance with regard to social distancing. David continued ‘EYC Global already have another course planned at our site and we look forward to working together with them in the future’.

The railway is a charity run totally by volunteers. It is hoping to grow into a major tourist attraction for the Llanelli district and in order to reach our goals we need more volunteer help in all departments including operational, maintenance and restoration, and administration. If you could spare a few hours for what is a most enjoyable pastime and worthwhile cause do not hesitate to get in touch. For more information or to volunteer please visit our website at https://www.llanellirailway.co.uk or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/llanellirailway