The train operator earned national recognition in the Government’s Top Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings, which celebrate organisations delivering outstanding apprenticeship programmes.

Ashley Bray, human resources director at Great Western Railway, said: “It’s another achievement we can be immensely proud of.

“To be recognised alongside some of the country’s leading employers reflects the dedication of our teams and, most importantly, the talent and commitment of our apprentices.

“Combined with becoming the first train operator to achieve Platinum accreditation for our apprenticeship programme, this recognition reinforces our commitment to creating real opportunities for diverse young people from our local communities to build rewarding careers in the railway.”

Earlier this year, GWR became the UK’s first train operator to achieve Platinum status in the Investors in People ‘We Invest in Apprentices’ accreditation.

The company’s apprenticeship journey began in 2011 with just 15 apprentices.

Since then, it has expanded to offer more than 17 programmes and now supports more than 300 apprentices in a variety of roles across its network.

GWR Learning and Development Manager Andrew Perry said: “We’ve been on an incredible journey since launching our first apprenticeship programme in 2011 with just 15 apprentices.

“To be recognised as one of the country’s top 100 apprenticeship employers is fantastic recognition of everyone’s hard work and the positive experiences our apprentices have throughout their journey with us.”

One standout example is Sophie Carter, a 22-year-old customer service apprentice from Plymouth who won the Sir Andrew Haines Apprentice of the Year Award at GWR’s internal recognition programme.

During her apprenticeship, she completed a level 2 colleague course, earned a foundation degree, and achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Ms Carter went on to a Driver Manager Apprenticeship, where she led a project to run a train crewed entirely by current and former apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week.

The initiative was praised by Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander MP.

Ms Carter said: “It’s brilliant to see GWR recognised as one of England’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers because it reflects the genuine investment the company makes in its apprentices.

“I’ve been given opportunities I never imagined, from developing new skills and gaining qualifications to leading projects that have made a real difference.

“It’s a place where you’re encouraged to grow, challenged to achieve your potential and supported every step of the way, and I’m really proud to be part of that success.”

With temperatures remaining high this weekend (Saturday, July 18 – Sunday, July 19), the service is urging residents to resist the temptation to swim in rivers, lakes, or flooded decommissioned quarries.

A spokesperson for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Chinnor Quarry is a prime example of a body of water that is dangerous.

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“It looks appealing but hidden dangers and deep waters are lethal. There are steep drops and contaminants in the waters.”

Its advice comes after a string of open-water swimming deaths across the UK this summer

The BBC has reported that there have been at least 29 deaths in open water across the UK since the spell of record-breaking hot weather, which began in May.

Chinnor Quarry (Image: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

This includes the tragic death of 14-year-old boy Baltazar L’Quy in the River Thames on the evening of Wednesday, May 27, close to Donnington Bridge.

As such the fire service has advised the public to stay out of open water, adding that the safest place to swim is in a supervised swimming pool.

The service also warned residents to avoid being near water if they have been drinking alcohol and advised parents to warn their children of the risks and know where they are when they are out playing.

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The dangers of cold open water were also highlighted, including cold-water shock which can affect breathing.

“Half of all people who drown never intended to enter the water,” added the fire service spokesperson.

They also advised people to call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service if they see someone else in difficulties in water.

O2 has switched on its upgraded 5G+ standalone network across Oxford, Banbury, and Didcot as part of Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan.

Up to 450,000 residents in Oxfordshire, spanning 495 towns, villages, and hamlets, stand to benefit from improved speeds, greater reliability, and reduced latency after the next generation network was activated on Thursday, July 16.

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Professor Robert Joyce, director of mobile access engineering at O2, said: “Our upgraded 5G+ network is now available across Oxfordshire, bringing faster, more reliable connectivity to one of the UK’s leading centres for innovation, education, and tourism.

“Whether exploring the county’s historic attractions, commuting between towns, or working within Oxfordshire’s science and technology sector, people rely on mobile connectivity more than ever.

“Through our Mobile Transformation Plan, we’re continuing to invest in our network to deliver a better experience for customers, while building the digital infrastructure needed to support future innovation.”

A mast used for 5G mobile coverage (Image: O2)

The upgrade supports Oxfordshire’s academic institutions and growing science and technology sectors, allowing businesses, students, and educators to remain competitive and connected, says the company.

The O2 5G+ network covers Oxford, Banbury, Abingdon, Bicester, Witney, Didcot, Carterton, Kidlington, Henley-on-Thames, Thame, Wantage, and Farringdon.

The improved coverage also aims to support visitor connectivity during the busy summer season.

In addition, O2 say it will underpin ongoing innovation and support economic growth in a region already recognised for its contributions to science, technology, and research.

Virgin Media O2’s Mobile Transformation Plan includes upgrades to masts, small cells, 4G and 5G infrastructure, automation, and spectrum deployment.

O2 shop in Woolgate Centre in Witney (Image: O2)

The company’s 5G+ network now reaches more than 85 per cent of the UK population with a further major upgrade planned for 2026.

Customers in upgraded areas such as Oxfordshire can access the 5G+ network at no additional cost, provided they have a compatible device and plan and an up-to-date SIM.

Some users may need to switch to a digital eSIM.

All cities, towns, and villages included in Virgin Media O2’s 5G+ programme rollout now have at least 90 per cent 5G+ standalone outdoor coverage.

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This announcement comes after a number of recent attempts to improve mobile coverage across Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas.

In 2025 this included a scheme designed at harnessing street lighting to improve connectivity.

The plan saw small cell technology integrated into street lighting to transform urban infrastructure into a scalable, multi-operator wireless network.

The project was a collaboration between Cornerstone, a mobile infrastructure services company, Signify, a lighting company, and Dense Air, a neutral host platform provider.