Train’d Up appoints Emma Barrett‑Peel as Chief Executive Officer to lead next phase of growth

Mar 6, 2026

Train’d Up appoints Emma Barrett‑Peel as Chief Executive Officer to lead next phase of growth

Train’d Up, the UK’s largest provider of rail apprenticeships and a rapidly expanding provider of engineering apprenticeships, has announced the appointment of Emma Barrett‑Peel as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 2 March 2026.

Emma joins Train’d Up with extensive leadership experience across the UK skills and training sector. She previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Learning Curve Group and has also worked as an Ofsted inspector for the past four years, bringing deep insight into quality, compliance and the future of vocational training in the UK.

Her appointment marks an important step in Train’d Up’s long‑term growth strategy as the organisation continues to expand its engineering and technical training provision while strengthening its established leadership in rail apprenticeships.

Train’d Up is making significant investment in curriculum development, employer partnerships and delivery innovation to ensure its programmes continue to meet the evolving needs of engineering and rail employers across the UK.

CEO Perspective

“Joining Train’d Up at this stage of its journey is incredibly exciting. The organisation has built a strong reputation for delivering high‑quality apprenticeships that genuinely make a difference to individuals and employers across the rail and engineering sectors.

We are investing in apprenticeships that help employers build real capability – from maintenance and reliability through to technician development. Our focus is on delivering quality outcomes, meaningful employer impact, and training that fits around the operational realities of modern engineering businesses.”

Emma Barrett-Peel

Chief Executive Officer, Train'd Up

Leadership and organisational development

“As Compliance and Operations Director, I’m excited about the next phase of the business, particularly the opportunity to work alongside the newly appointed executive team as we continue to strengthen our operations, scale responsibly and expand the opportunities we create.

I joined Train’d Up in 2023, bringing more than 20 years’ experience as a finance professional. The last three years have been incredibly rewarding and have strengthened my passion and commitment to delivering high-quality apprenticeship training and the positive impact this can have on our learners and employers.

Everything we do is focused on changing lives through skills and education, and I’m proud to be part of a team that is so passionate about that mission.”

Laura Thompson

Compliance and Operations Director, Train'd Up

Train’d Up currently supports more than 1,300 learners and works with many of the UK’s leading train operating companies and engineering employers.

Train’d Up works closely with train operating companies across England to support the delivery of national apprenticeship strategies, helping employers develop skilled, job-ready workforces across critical operational and engineering roles. Through long-term partnerships with rail operators, the organisation delivers structured apprenticeship programmes that align with industry workforce planning while supporting consistent training standards across multiple locations.

As a training provider, the strong focus on quality and employer collaboration has also resulted in consistently high apprenticeship achievement rates, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to delivering programmes that enable learners to successfully complete their training and progress into skilled roles within the rail industry.

While maintaining its position as the primary apprenticeship provider for the rail sector, the organisation is now accelerating growth in engineering training with the ambition to become a leading provider of technical apprenticeships across multiple industries.

Train’d Up’s engineering programmes are designed to support engineering and manufacturing employers nationwide. The programmes combine hands‑on workplace learning with live, tutor‑led online delivery, creating a hybrid model that provides flexibility for shift patterns while ensuring consistent training across multiple sites.

Strengthening the leadership team

“Investing in strong leadership is essential for building a sustainable and successful apprenticeship provider. With the appointments of Emma and Jamie, alongside several other senior hires, we are demonstrating our ambition to build a high‑impact organisation that delivers real value to the sectors we serve.”

Ben Pike

Non-Executive Chair, Train'd Up

Emma’s appointment comes at a time when UK employers continue to report persistent shortages in engineering and maintenance roles. Demand for high‑quality apprenticeship training, technician pathways and workforce upskilling continues to grow as employers look to strengthen productivity and long‑term workforce resilience.

Alongside Emma’s appointment, Train’d Up has also recently appointed Jamie McVey as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), responsible for leading the organisation’s commercial strategy and employer partnerships. Jamie joins from LMP Education, where he played a key role in helping the organisation grow into a leading provider in the UK education sector over a 13‑year period.

“Engineering employers are increasingly asking for scalable, consistent training delivery across multiple sites without disrupting shift patterns. Our focus is on building strong technician and engineer pipelines that improve workforce capability, strengthen retention, and support long‑term employer growth.”
Jamie McVey

Chief Commercial Officer, Train'd Up

“Train’d Up is a standout provider within the vocational training sector, with a clear track record of quality delivery and strong employer relationships. We’re delighted to support the team as they scale the organisation and help address critical skills shortages in key areas of the UK economy.”
Andrew Reid

Investment Manager, Chiltern Capital

With the backing of Chiltern Capital, Train’d Up is well positioned to continue expanding its impact across both the rail and engineering sectors. The leadership team remains focused on maintaining the high standards that have defined the organisation’s reputation while exploring new opportunities for growth and innovation.

With new leadership in place and continued investment in curriculum and employer partnerships, Train’d Up is entering its next phase of growth. The organisation remains committed to delivering high-quality apprenticeships that address critical skills shortages, strengthen the UK’s engineering and rail workforce, and provide learners with the practical skills needed to build long-term careers in technical industries.

Apprenticeships Delivered by Train’d Up Include:

    • Engineering Operative (Level 2)
    • Engineering Design Technician (Level 3)
    • Engineering Manufacturing Technician (Level 4)
    • Lead Engineering Maintenance Technician (Level 4)
    • Safety, Health and Environment Technician (Level 3)
    • Engineering Maintenance Technician – Dual Discipline (Level 3)
    • Engineering Maintenance Technician – Single Discipline (Level 3)
    • Process Industry Manufacturing Technician (Level 3)
    • Train Driver (Level 3)
    • Rail Engineering (Level 2-4)
    • Passenger Transport Operative (Level 2)
    • Transport Scheduler (Level 3)

Notes to Editors

Train’d Up was founded in 2003 and currently supports more than 1,300 learners across the UK.

The organisation is the UK’s largest provider of rail apprenticeships and a fast‑growing provider of engineering apprenticeships.

Chiltern Capital backed Train’d Up’s management buy‑out in June 2025.

For further information:

Engineering apprenticeships: https://www.traindup.org/engineering-apprenticeships
Case studies: https://www.traindup.org/case-studies

Media Contact

Jamie McVey
Train’d Up
Email: marketing@traindup.org
Tel: 0330 058 8300
Website: https://www.traindup.org