UK infrastructure services company Amey has entered a Social Value Partnership with Pro Rail Academy, giving HR and workforce planning teams in rail a structured route to skilled apprentices, new entrants and experienced professionals as Ireland prepares for future infrastructure investment.

Amey is a UK infrastructure services company that will provide technical expertise and materials to the Academy’s training programmes, particularly in installing and maintaining Overhead Line Equipment, with potential future collaboration in signalling. Financial figures are not included in the announcement.

Pro Rail Academy is Ireland’s first dedicated railway technical training academy, set up by UK-headquartered Pro Rail Services, with a new facility at Thomas Street, Kiltimagh, County Mayo.

The strategic logic ties social value commitments to a training pipeline. The Academy was established to develop a pipeline of skilled workers for the Irish and UK rail industries, offering practical, industry-focused training across rail disciplines while supporting innovation and R&D.

The structural driver is infrastructure investment. Ewen Morrison, account director at Amey, said: “The Irish Government’s recent transport budget announcement further reinforces the importance of investing in skills today to meet the demands of tomorrow. Social Value Partnerships like this ensure we are building the capability, expertise and talent pipeline needed to deliver the next generation of rail projects across Ireland.”

Siobhan Maloney, training director at Pro Rail Academy, said: “Their extensive experience in rail infrastructure and commitment to developing people will play an important role in helping us establish a centre of excellence for rail training.”

The announcement coincided with the sod-turning of the new Thomas Street facility, which will include a rail training centre, a Rail Innovation Hub and a Research & Development Hub, attended by Amey representatives, rail industry leaders, local stakeholders and Irish and UK government representatives.

Councillor Adrian Forkan said the academy could bring 15 to 20 full-time jobs and 30 to 50 students a year to Kiltimagh, according to Western People.

For the sector, the partnership shows an infrastructure services provider attaching technical expertise and materials to a new training academy as Ireland builds the workforce for planned infrastructure projects.

Source: Rail UK / Western People