The delivery partnership
Existing expertise, brought together for the rail supply chain. A practical connection between employer demand, the financial case and assessed digital talent.
Who’s behind it
This programme brings together services that are already operating. Data Story’s assessment and mentoring, CloudFO’s SME financial modelling and Scobic’s rail relationships combine to create the Entry-Level Digital Talent Pathway for Rail SMEs.
Data Story Ltd
Data Story operates an assessment and mentoring platform that already supports people into data, AI and analytics roles across London, Yorkshire and Humber, and the West Midlands.
As lead organisation, it delivers the Vetting and Readiness Programme every candidate goes through — assessing capability, supporting readiness and matching candidates to relevant employer needs.
Alchemy Box Ltd, trading as CloudFO
CloudFO is an AI financial modelling platform already used by more than 300 SMEs and accounting practices. For this programme, it identifies SMEs pursuing major rail contracts and models whether a digital hire makes financial sense for the business.
CloudFO works with the SMEs only. It does not work directly with candidates. Its role is to help employers understand the potential business return before deciding to hire.
Scobic Ltd
Scobic is a UK workforce and operational services business with deep rail-sector experience. It connects organisations with reliable, trained, work-ready people and creates pathways into sustainable careers for local communities.
Its active relationships include TfL, Network Rail, Amey Rail, Arriva and the Rail Safety and Standards Board. That experience helps the programme identify rail SMEs, live employer needs and opportunities on Scobic’s own projects.
Scobic’s starting point is simple: capable people should not be overlooked because they have taken a non-traditional route into employment.
How it works together
Identifies rail SMEs and live employer demand.
Builds the business-specific financial case for hiring.
Assesses, prepares and matches candidates.
Matched candidates progress to a four-week paid trial with an employer. Programme services are funded; employers pay trial wages. A placement or job is not guaranteed, and there is no obligation to hire after the trial.
Why this combination
Data Story can assess and match talent. CloudFO can model whether a hire pays off. Scobic brings access to rail employers and live projects. Each partner contributes a different part of the pathway.
Together, they connect genuine employer demand with a clear business case and candidates assessed for capability — bringing the opportunity to test the fit through a supported, paid trial.
The programme is funded by Innovate UK’s TechLocal competition and operates across London, Yorkshire and Humber, and the West Midlands.
Find your route into the programmeFor rail supply chain SMEs