Great British Railways takes shape as HQ and apprenticeship scheme confirmed
Great British Railways will establish its headquarters in Derby, creating up to 450 jobs and 600 apprenticeships over four years, marking a step toward a publicly owned railway system prioritising passengers.
The UK government has confirmed Derby as the location for Great British Railways’ new headquarters, a development expected to employ up to 450 staff and open up apprenticeship opportunities for 600 young people. Situated at the Becketwell brownfield site in Derby city centre, the new headquarters will replace a fragmented system with a unified, publicly owned railway focused on passenger needs. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2027, with completion anticipated by spring 2029, aligning with the government’s broader plan to modernise Britain’s rail network.
Up to 600 apprentices aged 16 to 21 will enrol in a rail foundation apprenticeship programme over the next four years, with the first cohort based in Derby. The initiative aims to address the shortage of young workers in the rail sector, where less than 7% of the workforce is under 25, while reinforcing Derby’s status as Europe’s largest rail hub. The apprenticeships combine on-the-job training with qualifications, providing a pathway into skilled employment as part of the government’s £2.5 billion youth employment support package.
The new headquarters will serve as a central hub for Great British Railways, fostering collaboration and strengthening Derby’s role in improving Britain’s railways. The site will be supported by enhanced public transport links and walking routes, developed in partnership with the Department for Transport, Derby City Council, and the East Midlands Combined Authority. This follows a £1 billion investment in a new fleet of trains for northern England, to be built at Alstom’s Derby site, which will create hundreds of skilled jobs and further apprenticeships.
The announcement underscores the government’s commitment to revitalising the rail industry by investing in infrastructure, skills, and local economies. Derby’s selection as the headquarters location reflects its deep-rooted connection to the rail sector, offering young people opportunities to build careers without relocating. The initiative is framed as a response to decades of underinvestment, with the government positioning Great British Railways as a model for a passenger-focused, publicly owned railway system.