Network Rail has spent more than £20m on a purpose-built residential leadership centre to train its next generation of leaders.
On top of recent announcements about a drive to recruit apprentices, this means Network Rail will be spending more than £50m on recruitment and training over the next five years.
The investment in the Westwood leadership centre in Coventry covers its purchase, the installation of new facilities, the development of the curriculum and the running of the centre.
The first Network Rail managers are expected to enrol for study later this year.
The centre will deliver a programme of professional skills development, including accredited leadership and management courses, developed in conjunction with the University of Warwick.
Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s deputy chief executive, said leadership skills were critical to the success of the company’s mission to rebuild the UK’s railways.
“The investment in Westwood is a vital part of our long-term plans to develop a team of professionals: strong managers who will lead our company into the next decade,” Coucher said.
The announcement comes only two months after Network Rail announced it would recruit 1,000 17- to 19-year-olds over the next five years at the cost of about £30m.
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