Ex-forces personnel have skills that can be transferred into the rail industry through training, according to Scott Bulloch, head of rail at ATA Selection.

RTC Group recruiter ATA Rail hires and retrains ex-forces technicians to fill the skills gap in the railway sector. The recruiter has successfully placed former military personnel who are experienced in technical roles from telecoms to helicopter repairs.

Workers are retrained at ATA Rail’s sister company Catalis’ high-tech facility based at the Derby Conference Centre. ATA Rail then conducts face-to-face assessments with recruits and match them to the requirements of train operators.
 
Employees are then guaranteed 12 weeks’ work once they are placed with an employer. If during that time they are found to be unsuitable for the role, the employer would get a full refund.

Bulloch told Recruiter: “One of the areas where we found a good fit with the safety critical depot environment that you get in the rail sector is with forces leavers. They have good technical training through fixing tanks, aircraft and helicopters. They have a good range of electrical, hydraulic, mechanical and pneumatic skills.”