Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport and MP for Swindon South, has officially opened Great Western Railway’s (GWR) new Learning and Development Centre.
The new Centre is at the operator’s head office in Swindon Head, and the company sees it as a significant investment in the railway industry’s training and skills development.
The Centre’s location is within Swindon South constituency, which is represented in Parliament by Ms Alexander. She was taken on a tour of the new facility, and took the opportunity to observe a live training session on conflict resolution. She also met both graduates and new recruits who are at the start of their careers with GWR.
Heidi Alexander visiting Great Western Railway’s (GWR) new Learning and Development Centre // Credit: GWR
GWR has been developing the new Centre for the last eighteen months. Now it is open, it provides modern, purpose-built spaces for technical and customer service training.
The operator – which was recently fined £1m for safety failures leading to a fatal accident – says that the Centre is designed to help workers to deliver the best standards of safety, performance and customer experience.
Great Western Railway Managing Director, Mark Hopwood, described welcoming the Transport Secretary to GWR’s new Learning and Development Centre as “a pleasure”. He described the new facility as “a significant investment in our people and our future”, explaining that it will give GWR workers the skills, confidence and support required to deliver GWR’s services to passengers.
He spoke of his pride in the company’s creation of opportunities for people to pursue careers in the railway industry.
Heidi Alexander visiting Great Western Railway’s (GWR) new Learning and Development Centre // Credit: GWR
Great Western Railway is one of the next two train operating companies that will be brought into public ownership.
“Swindon has the railway running through its heart, so it was a great pleasure to open GWR’s new Learning and Development Centre in my constituency.
“The rail industry is a fantastic employer, and it was wonderful to meet new GWR recruits and colleagues who are completing apprenticeships and degrees and who represent the very best of the railway. It’s in very good hands for the future!”
Secretary of State for Transport and MP for Swindon South, Heidi Alexander
