Great Western Railway has been named one of the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers.
The train operator earned the recognition in the Government’s Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings, highlighting its commitment to delivering outstanding apprenticeship programmes.
With more than 70,000 employers offering apprenticeships in England, the rankings celebrate excellence in supporting apprentices to complete their programmes, offering diverse opportunities, and delivering a high-quality experience.
Earlier this year, GWR became the UK’s first train operator to achieve Platinum status in the Investors in People ‘We Invest in Apprentices’ accreditation.
Ashley Bray, human resources director at GWR, said: “It’s another achievement we can be immensely proud of.
“To be recognised alongside some of the country’s leading employers reflects the dedication of our teams and, most importantly, the talent and commitment of our apprentices.
“Combined with becoming the first train operator to achieve Platinum accreditation for our apprenticeship programme, this recognition reinforces our commitment to creating real opportunities for diverse young people from our local communities to build rewarding careers in the railway.”
GWR launched its vocational apprenticeship programme in 2016 in partnership with Exeter College.
Since 2020, it has also run Quest apprenticeships, which allow existing staff to gain recognised qualifications while working.
Andrew Perry, learning and development manager at GWR, said: “We’ve been on an incredible journey since launching our first apprenticeship programme in 2011 with just 15 apprentices.
“To be recognised as one of the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers is fantastic recognition of everyone’s hard work and the positive experiences our apprentices have throughout their journey with us.”
GWR now offers more than 17 apprenticeship programmes and currently supports more than 300 apprentices.
Among them is 22-year-old Sophie Carter from Plymouth, who this year won the Sir Andrew Haines Apprentice of the Year Award at GWR’s internal awards.
Ms Carter said: “It’s brilliant to see GWR recognised as one of England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers because it reflects the genuine investment the company makes in its apprentices.
“It’s a place where you’re encouraged to grow, challenged to achieve your potential and supported every step of the way.”