CIRO Updates Level 4 Apprenticeship to Meet Industry Needs
CIRO is delighted to announce the refresh of its Level 4 Passenger Transport Operations Manager( PTOM) Apprenticeship, ensuring it remains contemporary, engaging, and aligned with the needs of today’ s railway.
This update reflects CIRO’ s commitment to continual improvement, reviewing programmes regularly so both learners and employers benefit from the highest standards of training and assessment.
A Strong Foundation for Future Rail Leaders
The Level 4 PTOM Apprenticeship supports apprentices to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours they need to become competent and effective rail operations managers. Core content includes operational planning, safety management, customer service, management and leadership, project management, financial management, performance and strategic thinking.
Learners follow a structured pathway that blends classroom and on-line learning with practical application in the work place, preparing them to take on greater responsibility. Employers benefit from a pipeline of capable leaders who understand both the technical and people-focused aspects of railway operations.
CIRO’ s Level 4 PTOM programme includes CIRO’ s award winning CIRO Connect Programme, a Level 5 CMI Management and Leadership qualification and CIRO’ s Intro to Rail Certificate, along with the benefits of both CIRO and CMI membership. Modules are delivered by rail industry and management and leadership subject matter experts.
Garreth Hilditch, a Level 4 PTOM apprentice, explained:
“ The qualification has helped me to become a better leader by providing me with the tools to improve how I manage my team and develop individuals. It’ s given me confidence to challenge myself and to put myself forward for opportunities I may not have considered before.”
His experience reflects a core aim of the programme: to develop leaders who can manage day-today operations effectively while also thinking strategically about the future of rail.
Why the Refresh Matters Now
The rail industry continues to evolve at pace. With growing passenger expectations, increased focus on sustainability, and the introduction of new technology across operations, the skills required of rail leaders are more complex than ever before. Employers need leaders who can balance operational delivery with innovation, customer focus, and workforce development.
The refresh of the PTOM Apprenticeship responds directly to these challenges. By updating both content and assessment, CIRO is ensuring apprentices are not only capable of meeting today’ s demands but are also equipped to lead rail into the future.
A Refreshed Approach
A key element of the update is a revamped assessment process, placing greater emphasis on applying learning directly to real-world workplace practice.
Apprentices are tasked with applying classroom learning and theory back into the real world within which they work— whether through solving operational challenges, improving customer service, or leading teams more confidently.
This change reflects CIRO’ s philosophy of continuous improvement: building on a strong foundation while ensuring programmes remain relevant to current and future industry needs.
For employers, this means apprentices return to the workplace better prepared to make immediate contributions, embedding their new skills into projects and daily operations.
Embedding CIRO Connect
The updated apprenticeship now integrates CIRO Connect, CIRO’ s award-winning introductory programme. By embedding CIRO Connect, apprentices gain a broader contextualised understanding of the rail industry.
This addition has enhanced the classroom experience, strengthening experiential learning by creating more space for discussion, practical activities and tasks.
Sara Flower, Graduate Project Manager at Network Rail and former CIRO Connect learner, shared her perspective:
“ Quite often in your day job as rail professionals we’ re pigeonholed into a certain area, whereas CIRO Connect really encourages us to think more outwardly. It’ s not only interesting, but really important. I’ d honestly recommend it to anybody in the rail industry— particularly those who are new, because it can be quite overwhelming and there’ s so much to learn. Having a structured programme is undeniably useful.”
By connecting learners to the bigger picture, CIRO Connect ensures learners leave with both specialist and industry-wide insight, a vital combination for future leaders.
Benefits for Learners and Employers
For learners, the refreshed PTOM Apprenticeship offers:
• Leadership and management skills with clear workplace application
• A stronger, contextualised understanding of the rail industry
• More interactive and engaging classroom sessions
• Increased confidence to step into more senior roles
For employers, the benefits include:
• Apprentices equipped with the behaviours and skills needed for real-world operations
18 CIRO | Bulletin 56