Training future heritage engineers in a pioneering apprenticeship scheme
The Heritage Apprenticeship Scheme (HAS) is a well-established part of the Railway's operation, and currently receives the majority of its funding from the SVR Charitable Trust.
Within the Academy's four-year scheme, a number of young people work and learn across the different departments; locomotive running, boiler shop, carriage mechanical, and carriage bodywork.
Initially, apprentices rotate around these departments to gain experience and knowledge across a range of trades. After two years, they're assigned to one of the departments to pursue a specialisation.
As well as intensive on-the-job training, apprentices work towards nationally-recognised NVQ 2 and 3 level qualifications.
Investing to help safeguard the SVR
Ron Treverton-Jones, the chairman of our investment committee and a trustee, explains what our Future Fund is, and why it will be so important:
What exactly is the Future Fund?
The Future Fund was set up in 2015 to provide an alternative source of funding for the SVR Charitable Trust in the years to come. It will mean we won’t have to rely on new fundraising for every single project, as we currently do. Generous donations from supporters raised £500,000, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) doubled this to kick-start our Future Fund with £1 million.
Carriage Restoration
The LNER Carriage Group's main role is to assist the Charitable Trust in fundraising and caring for the LNER set of teak carriages all owned by the Trust. The group is made up of 12 regular volunteers, is based at Bewdley and issues regular newsletters on its work - see our LNER Carriage Group page for more information.
The SVR's collection of passenger coaches is made up of almost 70 vehicles, built between 1910 and 1968, from the eras of the Great Western Railway (GWR), the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS), the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) and the nationalised British Railways (BR).
Other project areas
Infrastructure
Permanent Way
Diesel projects
Wheelchair access
Education and Exhibitions
