Apprentice Matthew follows the family tradition

Matthew Hall has just become the first Apprentice at the National Express Crown Point Maintenance Depot in Norwich to complete an apprenticeship since British Rail days.

Matthew began his railway career with Anglia Railways as a cleaner but applied for an apprenticeship when the team at Crown Point recommenced a training scheme in 2002. He comes from a railway family with his father Steve also employed at Crown Point, and grandfather Alan Brady a retired railwayman.

During his 1st year at the East Anglian General Industrial Trades training centre he gained the most improved apprentice award. He has worked well during his time with Anglia and National Express (since April 2004) and gained his NVQ 3 and Engineering Advanced Modern Apprenticeship early. He is the first apprentice to complete an apprenticeship at Crown Point since British Rail's tenure of the rail industry. Matthew, who is 23 and from Great Yarmouth is now carrying out maintenance, fault finding and repairs on both the mainline and rural train fleets as a fully qualified maintenance fitter/electrician.

Matthew was presented with his NVQ 3 in Engineering Maintenance and Advanced Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering Certificates by James Abbott, Editor of the respected rail industry magazine Modern Railways, in a ceremony also attended by Mark Hopwood of the National Express Group's Trains Division.

Mike Watkins, Fleet Manager for National Express at Crown Point commented:

Matthew has been a model apprentice and in congratulating him on his achievements we look forward to his continued contribution as a key member of our maintenance team. National Express is committed to the training and development of our staff, and we hope examples such as Matthew will inspire future employees to follow a successful path in the rail