City & Guilds Group, a London-based skills development firm, announced the acquisition of Intertrain, a UK-based training provider for railway infrastructure.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Established in 1997, Intertrain is the UK’s largest commercial railway infrastructure training provider.

According to City & Guilds, the acquisition strengthens the group’s technical training, assessment and certification offer to the engineering, rail and construction industries.

Intertrain trains over 22,000 learners and more than 40 apprentices nationwide, every year. It delivers over 300 different training courses and assessments, training new entrants into the sector as well as re-skilling, upskilling and recertifying existing rail personnel.

“The UK rail infrastructure training and assessment market in the UK will need to grow over the next 10 years and play an active role in closing the skills gap in STEM markets,” the group stated.

Martin Hottass, Group Director, Technical Training, at City & Guilds Group also commented: “With the Government making ambitious plans to overhaul the rail sector that will increase the use of digital technology, boost productivity and improve customer experience, it’s critical the workforce is skilled to drive these changes forward. In addition to increasing our service offer to our existing customers who have a presence in the rail industry, this acquisition will build on the group’s best in class technical training offer to prime the UK economy for growth in this key sector.”

Alex Pond, Director at Intertrain, also commented, “As the UK’s largest railway training provider, we are excited to become part of the City & Guilds Group, a 140-year international institution in teaching, learning and qualification development. The acquisition provides Intertrain, its employees, customers and learners with significant investment and opportunities in digital learner platforms and blended learning that will meet with the demands of the STEM markets, particularly within rail. This technology will see Intertrain develop innovative strategies that will enhance and encourage safety, ultimately providing a safer and more productive railway.”