Have you ever dreamed of switching careers but thought it was too late? Think again. Just ask Matt Rudd, a 30-year-old from Hornsea who swapped building hyperbaric chambers for the offshore industry to driving trains – and he couldn’t be happier.
Matt had never even considered a career in rail until he spotted an apprenticeship opportunity with Hull Trains. Taking the leap, he applied – and the rest is history. Now, he’s living his dream, driving passengers between Hull and London every day.
“I never thought I’d end up in the rail industry,” Matt admits. “Nobody in my family worked in the sector, and it just wasn’t on my radar. But Hull Trains gave me the chance to retrain and start a completely new career. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
His journey proves that apprenticeships aren’t just for school-leavers. They’re for anyone willing to take a chance and start fresh. Hull Trains, celebrating 25 years in operation, has made apprenticeships a priority, opening doors for people from all walks of life. Partnering with training provider Train’d Up, the company is breaking down barriers and creating real opportunities.
Matt’s success story is part of a bigger movement within the rail industry. Open-access operators like Hull Trains—privately run services that operate without government subsidies—are not only changing the way we travel but also who gets to work in the sector. They’re proving that rail isn’t just for lifelong industry insiders; it’s for anyone ready to step aboard.
The results speak for themselves. Hull Trains has an impressive track record in diversity, with 52% of its workforce made up of women—far exceeding the industry average—and 28% of its drivers are women too. It’s a company proving that rail careers are open to everyone, regardless of background.
For Matt, the thrill of the job never wears off. “It’s the views,” he says. “As the driver, you’ve got the best seat in the house. Seeing the Humber Bridge on my return trip always feels like home.”
As National Apprenticeship Week shines a light on career changers like Matt, his story is a reminder that it’s never too late to take a leap of faith. The train to your dream career might just be waiting at the next station.