L3 Operations Apprentice Review

Shadowing existing Railways Operators hoping they allow you to carry out the job. Courses, placements with supporting disciplines, reflective essays. Attaining competences to allow me to run the railways.

Learned to signal trains. Did multiple courses which were identical to those that gave accreditation/competence, but was not awarded due to spurious reasons.

I did not. The company treated us with no dignity. Placed excessive demands under the guise that this is what 'Operations requires' whilst not being in an Operational role, and under the promise this would lead to reward that never came to fruition.

There was a clear plan/structure. Which was not met whatsoever, there were at least five iterations of the 18 month programme, and not one of those iterations was adhered to. The result was an ad hoc scramble with national travel being requested of us with no working days notice repeatedly.

Support was forthcoming, but wholly superficial.

Support was forthcoming from the Network Rail training team.

The qualifications achieved were relevant and an access path to a limited range of Operational roles. However, there was no access pathway or qualifications to many of the roles specified as being destination roles by management and in the job advertisement.

There are some available, but only on a national scale involving travel. None are near.

No

Unilaterally unpleasant culture.

Be aware of the realistic outcomes versus those you are told are realistic.