York-based rail company PBH Rail Group has taken on two new apprentices within its Surveys division, a move aimed at bridging the skills gap in the rail industry.

Riley Rowan and Nicholas Gamov joined the team on a two-year, level three programme and have stepped into the Surveys Delivery Team as Geospatial Survey Technicians. They will support the collection, processing, and analysis of spatial data that underpin both rail and infrastructure projects.

In their roles, Riley and Nicholas will gain hands-on experience using industry-leading surveying technologies such as total stations, GNSS, and laser scanning equipment to capture accurate site data. They will also learn how to process and interpret this information to produce detailed digital models and drawings used across project lifecycles, from early design through to construction and maintenance.

Working alongside experienced surveyors, both apprentices will develop the technical expertise and practical understanding required to build strong foundations for their careers in geomatics and the wider rail industry.

Despite innovation across the rail sector, the industry still faces a significant skills gap, with some of the main issues cited being an ageing workforce and industry perception. There is also a lack of educational entryways to the industry, and a lack of specific training courses that focus on each different aspect of rail for STEM graduates.

Established in 2003, PBH Rail Group works exclusively on rail projects for clients across the UK and internationally. Headquartered in York, the company now employs 96 staff members across its five divisions, including Permanent Way, Systems Engineering, OLE, Survey, and Civils.