Health & Safety Apprentice

Contract Type: Permanent opportunity for new entrants to Network Rail only.

Office Requirement: This is a hybrid role with an expectation of spending a minimum of three days per week in the office. You may also be required to work from other TRU locations across York, Leeds, Huddersfield, and Manchester, with occasional travel to additional sites as needed.

Closing date: 22nd February 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.

The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a £10.7 billion programme improving the railway between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield. This programme is led by Network Rail and your employer will be Network Rail. It spans the North of England and serves 23 stations, with numerous bridges, tunnels, and level crossings.

Exciting Health & Safety Apprenticeship within the TRU Health, Safety & Wellbeing team. The role supports delivering safe working practices and compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards across the programme.

Are you the right fit? We are looking for someone who enjoys supporting others, tackles complex challenges, and is motivated to learn and grow into a future leader. This role provides hands-on experience in health, safety, and wellbeing on a major rail upgrade programme.

Responsibilities:

• Help put health, safety, and environmental procedures into practice and check they are being followed.
• Assist with risk assessments and hazard spotting to keep people safe.
• Record and report incidents, and support investigations when things go wrong.
• Help deliver safety briefings, toolbox talks, and inductions for teams.
• Keep documents up to date for audits, inspections, and safety checks.
• Work with colleagues and partners to support safe operations and improve processes.
• Gain experience in risk management, safety culture, and compliance as part of the TRU Health & Safety Team.

The ideal candidate:

• Motivated to make a real impact, eager to learn, and ready to grow into a future leader.
• Organisation and proactivity with an interest in health and safety.
• Confidence with technology and communication.
• Attention to detail and care when handling important information.
• Team player with a desire to make a positive difference.
• Willingness to learn and follow safety rules to keep everyone safe.

What we offer:

• On-the-job experience: Exposure to varying health and safety roles and duties in different programme areas.
• Study support: 20% of working hours set aside for off-the-job learning and study related to your apprenticeship; Network Rail covers all study costs.
• Mentorship: Ongoing mentorship to support professional growth and success.
• Career development: Skills to become a confident planning professional.
• Permanent employment with Network Rail, competitive salary, and excellent benefits while completing a professional qualification.

If you’re ready to kick-start your career in Health & Safety, apply now and join us on this exciting journey.

What you’ll get out of it:

• Exposure to Health, Safety & Wellbeing on a major programme with the aim of transforming travel in the North over the next 10 years.
• Successful completion leads to a Level 3 Safety, Health and Environment Technician apprenticeship.
• The opportunities it leads to: Network Rail offers in-house opportunities and clear career progression. Apprentices may apply for Health & Safety roles within the organisation and progress into managerial positions over time.

Additional notes:

• Permanent employment with Network Rail and professional qualification support.
• Right to Work in the UK: Sponsorship may not be available for this role.
• Some roles may require face-to-face Drugs & Alcohol testing; details provided with a formal offer.
• Safety and safeguarding: Keeping people safe on the railway is a core responsibility.

Salary: This vacancy is Band 8, salary: £20,500 per annum.

Eligibility and application notes: We encourage applicants to provide a cover letter explaining motivation and suitability. This information helps us understand what you can bring to the role.