Siemens brings together East Midlands leaders to unlock talent in the area

Siemens Mobility has brought together regional leaders and businesses at its Derby site to discuss skills development, apprenticeships and future transport investment across the East Midlands.

The roundtable was attended by East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward, Rt Hon Alistair Burt, Vice President of the Enterprise Forum, and representatives from around 20 local companies.

Discussions focused on the challenges facing young people in the region and how collaboration between industry and government can improve access to career opportunities.

A key theme was the need to raise awareness of apprenticeships, strengthen long-term skills pipelines and improve transport connectivity, ensuring young people can access jobs and training across the region.

Mayor Claire Ward said her ambition is to make the East Midlands one of the UK’s most dynamic and inclusive economies, highlighting the importance of partnerships between employers and local stakeholders.

She noted that initiatives like the Siemens roundtable demonstrate how businesses can help open up pathways into high-quality careers, while investment in both skills and infrastructure will be essential to supporting future growth.

Matt Kent, Director of Operations and Manufacturing for Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland, emphasised the long-term value of apprenticeships, reflecting on his own career, which began as an apprentice with the company more than three decades ago.

He said Siemens continues to prioritise early careers and skills development as part of its strategy for the future of rail, with more than 230 individuals currently enrolled in entry-level programmes across its UK sites. He also highlighted Derby’s long-standing role as a centre for rail innovation and the company’s commitment to maintaining that position.

The discussion also included contributions from three apprentices based at the Derby office, who shared their experiences working in areas such as digital signalling and control systems. Their insights highlighted both the barriers young people can face when entering the workforce and the opportunities available within engineering and rail.

Siemens’ Derby facility, which employs around 150 people, plays a key role in developing advanced rail technologies, including Digital Conflict Resolution (DCR) systems. This technology uses real-time data to monitor network performance and anticipate potential disruptions, helping to improve efficiency and reliability across the rail network.