Prospects College of Advanced Technology in Basildon is top of the train trainers.
Its railway training academy emerged as the leading educat-ional centre for the rail industry.
Opened last September, the academy has created a full railway environment, including a station a platform, track, customer information system, CCTV and both lineside and trackside equipment.
The academy specialises in technical training, advanced and higher apprenticeships for signalling design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
The National Skills Academy for Rail Engineering  assessed the academy as “good” in all four key performance areas with some “outstanding”.
Lee Bird, head of engineering at Prospects, said: “The assessors concluded our rail academy delivers excellent outcomes for learners, with first-rate retention and very good development of industry skills and knowledge.
“They also commented on the way employers have an excellent involvement in the planning and coordination of training.”
Working in partnership with some of the biggest employers in the railway sector, including Thales, Bombardier, Eurostar, Atkins and Serco-DLR, the academy has developed a national reputation, and is attracting apprentices from across the UK.
Mr Bird said: “We have demonstrated an ability to develop and deliver high-skilled technical apprentices.
“The rail industry is a vibrant and fast-growing sector, which offers enormous career potential for young people.
“But there is a significant skills gap. We work directly with the rail industry to help fill that gap.”
Gayna Hall, a spokesman for Thales, said “Thales and Prospects have worked closely to provide an engaging and exciting learning opportunity for young people with aspirations to work in engineering in the rail sector.
“A variety of skills are needed in the industry for the future and it was important to invest in an apprenticeship scheme that is attractive to the next generation of engineers and offers opportunities for them to learn.
“Working with Prospects has enabled us to do exactly that.” 
Mr Bird added: “We are delighted with this result, which indicates we are a world-class facility.
“We are turning out a new generation of highly capable technicians.
“But it isn’t just about where we are, it’s about where we’re going. It’s about the employment opportunities that are going to come out of it and the, yes, world-class training facility they can learn in.”
Next year Prospects College of Advanced Technology will be home to over 100 railway engineering apprentices.