The Midland Metro Alliance is celebrating after winning an accolade at the prestigious Institution of Civil Engineers West Midlands Awards for the third year in a row.

The alliance scooped the Education and Inspiration Award, for its Trailblazer Apprenticeship in Light Rail, during a virtual ceremony on Thursday 19 November. It follows a similar success in the Communications Award category at last year’s event, and a 2018 win for a programme designed to help unemployed people gain new skills and experience in the construction sector.

Led by the Midland Metro Alliance, which is extending the West Midlands Metro across the region on behalf of Transport for West Midlands, employers from the UK’s Light Rail industry designed the level two apprenticeship for individuals who want to develop a career in the tramway construction environment.

Rose Rees, Head of Engagement and Skills, said: “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award for our work in securing talent for the future. The apprenticeship programme is the first of its kind and is a valuable recruitment tool. This win is a true reflection of the hard work and dedication of our teams in making this apprenticeship a success and it is fantastic that the first cohort of people studying for this apprenticeship demonstrated its importance to the judges.”

The ICE Awards recognise both outstanding civil engineering achievements and contribution to the profession and the Institution.

Peter Cushing, Director of the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “We are dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy that the West Midlands can be truly proud of and winning the Education and Inspiration Award is an excellent accolade for the team and great for our industry as a whole. Well done to all involved for such a remarkable achievement.”

The Midland Metro Alliance was also shortlisted in the Communications Award for their collaborative campaign with Transport for West Midlands and Birmingham City Council to raise awareness of the closure of Five Ways Underpass as part of the construction of the Birmingham Westside Metro extension.

For more information on the Midland Metro Alliance, and submission videos for both categories, visit: https://metroalliance.co.uk/