Vital Rail - Rail Engineering Contractor, UKVital

First female apprentice - 14/06/2012

Eighteen-year-old Angelica Momodu, from Ladbroke Grove, is urging other females to consider undertaking an Apprenticeship in Rail Engineering.

The former St Augustine’s Priory pupil, who left West Thames College after deciding that a Performing Arts course wasn’t for her, started her Apprenticeship with Vital Skills Training in December 2011.

“I’m really enjoying my Apprenticeship and it doesn’t bother me that I’m the only girl in my group. Most of my friends are male and it’s all good fun,” said Angelica.

“I think you get more out of something when you learn hands-on and it’s much better learning by doing. My Apprenticeship has made me much more observant of my surroundings. I have learnt new skills everyday and it’s been great to learn more about the workings of the rail network.”

Angelica, who is employed by Vital Rail, is completing her Apprenticeship in Rail Engineering along with a group of male apprentices at Epping Ongar, where the group is working on a project to maintain a six-mile heritage railway site.

Vital Skills Training, which is one of the largest suppliers of training services to the rail, energy, mechanical & electrical and construction sectors, set an ambitious target to recruit and train 270 rail apprentices in 2012 and is already a third of the way towards this target, with 88 apprentices working on projects across the country.

Angelica continued: “My mum was so shocked when I first told her I was ditching my performing arts course to become a rail engineer, but she’s extremely supportive. She’s seen how enthusuastic I am about it and is completely behind me – she’s even looked at opportunities in the rail industry for herself!

“What I like most is the balance of working outside combined with being in the classroom

“I really want to develop my skills in the rail industry so I can earn more money and get some financial stability. My tutor, Rob, is a great motivator and has made be believe that anything is capable. He’s taught us to take pride in our work and has told us all about what opportunities there are in the rail industry – it’s all very exciting and I’ve recommended Apprenticeships to all of my friends.”

Rob Clarke, apprentice trainer at Vital Skills Training, added: “Angelica is a bright young lady and is doing extremely well in what has always been a male-dominated industry. The rail sector consists of a much older workforce and this group of young apprentices is like a new lease of life that will secure the skills and knowledge needed to support the many infrastructure projects that are planned for the future.”

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