South Cheshire College has joined forces with Aspire Rail and Total People to develop a unique programme of rail-related training opportunities in Crewe.

The initiative targets anyone who wants to learn skills required in the fast moving rail industry and current Aspire Rail employees who want to enhance their skills and qualifications.

This programme is part of a series of training programmes involving a wide range of Crewe-based rail companies who are putting the town at the centre of the major rail upgrading programme recently announced by the government.

Aspire Rail is a cutting edge, overhead line, rail development company which is at the forefront of providing the skilled staff required for the technological advances of the high speed railways.

Total People is one of the UKs lead companies in work-based learning and South Cheshire College is regarded as one of the best sixth form and tertiary colleges in the country - achieving three successive Outstanding Ofsted reports.

Aspire Rail has already successfully trained 24 of its staff, who have all gained their NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) in Railway Engineering - Electrification and Plant.

Now, the high-flying company, aims to train up to another 24 employees this year in conjunction with South Cheshire College and Total People - meaning that 80% of Aspire Rail staff will have been put through the NVQ programme.

Five apprentices, who joined Aspire Rail in November 2007, are also currently working towards a PE2 (Practical Engineering) qualification as part of a two year apprenticeship scheme.

Gareth Rothwell, Health and Safety Trainer at Aspire Rail, said: "We are delighted to be working closely with South Cheshire College and Total People to deliver this NVQ qualification.

"This is an excellent link-up with a top local college and it will benefit all of our employees in the long run by ensuring they have all the up-to-date rail industry skills at their fingertips."

Aspire Rail has an indoor training span based on the Network Rail Overhead Line Electrification (OLE) system and a fully interactive classroom at its Crewe Hall Enterprise Park base.

It also runs a whole host of railway specific training courses and UK wide health and safety training, including First Aid, and is an IOSH accredited training centre.

Steve Buschenfeld, Head of Employer Engagement at South Cheshire College, said: "This is the first of many rail-related training opportunities that we will be running for Crewe-based rail companies.

"Crewe is very much at the hub of the rail network so, as the leading college in the area, we want to bring more rail companies on board with this initiative.

"This is a great example of partnership working and we are pleased to be commencing the training programmes with Aspire who are at the forefront of rail engineering in the UK."