Railway Training Track Launched at HMP The Mount to Support Prisoners into Skilled Jobs

A new employer-led rail training programme has been launched at HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire, providing prisoners with a direct route into skilled employment in the rail industry upon release.

Known as The Railway Training Track, the initiative is a collaboration between Project Leaders, HMP The Mount, Balfour Beatty, and a range of rail-sector partners. The project has seen a section of operational railway track installed within the prison grounds, enabling prisoners to gain hands-on, industry-standard training.

The programme delivers accredited rail qualifications, supporting rehabilitation while addressing skills shortages across the rail sector. Since the track was installed in November 2025, 24 participants have completed the course, all of whom have successfully secured job offers ahead of release.

The official launch event was attended by senior figures from government and industry, including Lord James Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, and Lord Hendy, Minister of State for Rail, who jointly unveiled a commemorative plaque. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice, prison staff and major rail employers were also present.

Employment is widely recognised as a key factor in reducing reoffending, which currently costs taxpayers an estimated £23.6bn annually. The Railway Training Track demonstrates how employer-led, practical training can support rehabilitation by equipping individuals with skills that are immediately transferable into work.

The programme includes training in Personal Track Safety (PTS), First Aid, Manual Handling, Small Tools, Health and Safety, CSCS, and Fire Safety, giving participants the qualifications required to enter rail roles straight from custody.

Lord Timpson said the initiative was already delivering tangible results:

“This railway track is helping to turn lives around by giving prisoners the skills they need to work on release. Schemes like this are central to our plans to cut reoffending and create safer communities.”

David Daddow, Governor of HMP The Mount, said meaningful training opportunities play a crucial role in rehabilitation:

“Providing industry-standard training builds confidence, discipline and a sense of purpose. The Railway Training Track shows what is possible when employers and prisons work together.”

Richard Schofield, managing director of Project Leaders, said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to long-term workforce development:

“By combining accredited training with real job opportunities, we’re helping people re-enter the community successfully while strengthening the rail workforce.”

Alison Bell, people and communications director at Project Leaders and chair of the prison’s Employment Advisory Board, said the scheme offered a model for future programmes:

“If we want to reduce reoffending and tackle skills shortages, we need practical routes into work. This initiative proves what employer-led partnerships can achieve.”

A prisoner who completed the course said it had given him a clear path forward:

“The training has given me confidence, qualifications and job offers for when I’m released. It’s a chance to change my future for the better.”

Lisa McAteer, regional social impact manager at Balfour Beatty, said the project created a valuable talent pipeline:

“This programme equips people leaving custody with real skills and genuine job prospects, while helping our industry address long-term workforce challenges.”

Partners involved in the scheme say it provides a blueprint for similar initiatives across the prison estate, combining rehabilitation with workforce development and social value.