Rail contractors across Ayrshire and the west of Scotland are being invited to support a new prison‑based training programme designed to prepare people in custody for skilled track roles on Scotland’s railway. Scotland’s Railway Rail Skills Academy – a partnership between QTS Training and Network Rail – will deliver its first course inside a Scottish prison from September, using live rail infrastructure relocated from Kilmarnock station.
Participants will complete four weeks of intensive training within HMP Kilmarnock, followed by work experience that continues for up to ten weeks after release, culminating in a recognised railway qualification. Track lifted from upcoming Network Rail works at Kilmarnock station will be re‑laid in the prison grounds, giving trainees direct, hands‑on experience of the conditions and tasks they can expect on site.
The Academy and its partners are now calling on rail firms to step forward and offer roles to graduates emerging from custody with industry‑ready skills. Contractors who sign up will be invited to an information event inside HMP Kilmarnock, where they can meet prospective candidates before the course begins and identify those they may wish to employ on completion.
Lorna Gibson, training director at QTS Training, said the success of the initiative depends on industry buy‑in. “We want contractors across the west of Scotland to get behind this,” she said. “QTS Training and Network Rail are delivering the programme, what we need from industry is a commitment to consider these graduates for employment.”
The programme is explicitly framed as both a skills solution and a rehabilitation pathway, with partners highlighting the role of stable employment in reducing reoffending. “There is strong evidence that employment‑focused rehabilitation helps former individuals in custody to build lasting careers,” Gibson added. “Many of these people simply need someone to give them a chance. This programme is designed to make that as straightforward as possible for employers.”
Participants are being selected in partnership with Reconnect Scotland CIC, which works with people in custody before and after release and is also funding the initiative. Lorna Dalziel, director at Reconnect Scotland CIC, described the scheme as a “fantastic example” of rehabilitation built on strong, multi‑agency collaboration. “Employment provides far more than a wage, it brings confidence, purpose and stability,” she said. “The opportunity to gain meaningful employment has the potential to transform lives, strengthen family relationships and create brighter futures for generations to come, and we are incredibly proud to be part of making that happen.”
For Network Rail Scotland, the programme sits at the intersection of workforce planning and social value, providing new talent while supporting people to rebuild their lives after prison. Sameena Yousaf, head of resourcing at Network Rail Scotland, said: “This programme is about creating real opportunities for people to build a positive future while also helping address skills needs across the railway.”
“By working in partnership with QTS Training and Reconnect Scotland CIC, we’re supporting individuals as they transition back into the community with meaningful skills, experience and a clear pathway into employment,” Yousaf continued. “It’s a powerful example of how collaboration can open up opportunities, strengthen our workforce, and make a lasting difference to people’s lives.”
The prison‑based course builds on the wider success of Scotland’s Railway Rail Skills Academy, which launched in 2022 and has already achieved a reported 95% success rate, with the majority of its small cohorts leaving with full‑time employment. The Academy typically works with groups of around 12 people, allowing trainers to provide focused, individual support as learners progress through both classroom and site‑based elements.
In Case You Missed It:
Its partnership with Network Rail Scotland, formalised earlier this year, marks the evolution of the initiative from an in‑house QTS scheme to a broader, collaborative industry programme. The Governor of HMP Kilmarnock welcomed the new strand of work, saying: “These kinds of opportunities are hugely important in helping people towards better futures, for them and their families, reducing their risk of reoffending, and helping to build safer communities for all.”
Rail contractors interested in getting involved in the HMP Kilmarnock scheme are encouraged to contact QTS Training to discuss attending the upcoming information event and offering opportunities to programme graduates.
