The L&B's First Apprenticeship

The 1st July 2021 saw a landmark in the progress of the L&B with the appointment of Tom Woods as our very first apprentice.

Tom Woods (left) with John Uphill. (Photo Dave Hallett)

Tom, who turned 19 shortly after his appointment, had already been a regular volunteer on the L&B for a couple of years, working in the engine shed and workshop assisting in the repair and maintenance of our rolling stock, as well as doing turns as a fireman.

His new position as a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice builds on this experience and, in addition to his continuing and now paid employment, Tom will be studying at Bridgwater and Taunton College as a Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician, which is a Level 3 qualification.

Clearly, having trained staff to maintain our rolling stock is key to enabling the L&B to maintain its operations, and being able to train our own staff in this role increases our degree of self-sufficiency.

Anne Belsey
Director of Staff Development & Training