Qualifications and Curriculum Authority gives rail operator status of an awarding body

Network Rail received the green light for offering in-house qualifications.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) gave the company awarding body status, which will enable it to run its own qualification courses.

The railway operator will start by giving training opportunities in track engineering, which will also include instruction on health and safety.

Network Rail said all of its 33,000 employees will be eventually involved in the scheme, as well as appointed contractors and stakeholders across the rail sector.

The company is taking part in the piloting phase of the QCA鈥檚 new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). This new scheme works within a system of credit recognition, making it easier for employers and learners to understand.

Professor Andrew McNaughton, chief engineer of Network Rail, said: 鈥淏ecoming accredited as an awarding body as part of the Qualification and Credit Framework is a unique step for Network Rail. The ability to award nationally recognised, transferable qualifications will enable us to keep on setting industry standards for technical rail skills training in the UK and attract and develop highly trained and motivated people.鈥�