Rail Engineering Technician Apprentice Review

My role is working with the Network Rail maintenance delivery team, this role focuses on maintaining the infrastructure through maintenance intervention in a variety of ways. This could be from changing sleepers, to performing rail changes, the maintenance intervention carried out by the maintenance teams ensures that the trains can keep using the network safely. When we get in, it's all about readying the equipment ensuring that everything works prior to going out and carrying out our tasks. Going out working with a hardworking group of people carrying out the core work which without trains would not be able to run.

Yes, coming from an engineering background from college working on aircraft, I have obtained new skills and confidence that relates specifically to the railway environment. Having the confidence to overcome tasks such as understanding the technical elements of tasks and the reasoning as to why certain elements are categorized and carried out a certain way. This particular area has certainly built on my confidence when overcoming challenges and and obstacles when it comes to carrying out critical problem solving tasks, when a task must be completed within a certain time, might bring a strong sense of using ones own initiative, collaborating with their teams to tackle tasks quickly and efficiently.

The programme itself is good, offering new and exciting opportunities for those of all backgrounds, the railway being such a broad umbrella of various disciplines working together. For myself personally, I would say it's been a good opportunity to open my eyes to what is involved. For me personally it's an experience and journey I am glad to be a part of despite the various challenges.

The structure is okay, personally the NVQ aspect has been a little difficult, I can imagine it's difficult to balance both the NVQ aspects alongside regular trainings from Network Rail, and sometimes, especially in my case they conflicted with each other causing changes in schedules and rearranging training courses. The beginning it was rocky, the introduction to Inspiro was done poorly, and we had instances where the class links were not published, or the wrong links being given, causing in a lot of lost time. A problem I have had is I have gone away so many times so frequently, but was unable to reinforce the knowledge learnt with anything practical, meaning a lot of the information was lost.

The support is alright, my line manager is great, and has been helping me every step of the way. I would say the transition from life outside the railway has been exceptionally challenging to adapt to the new changes and challenges that are within the railway, and that lies with the people themselves. But the support has been great, at helping these challenges.

Inspiro do offer some trainings but that wasn't known until a year later that trainers were willing to provide additional catch up sessions to help those who require additional support. I have had friends, as well as myself where I we have waited up to 6 months for work to be marked, during that time multiple other courses was completed and Network training courses were carried out, and work has finally been marked and sent back for completion, and myself as well as many others have forgotten most, if not all the module. The concept is good, but virtual learning really differs from person to person, the tutors in our case were so varied that different teaching methods were used, some tutors going far faster through the content, whereas others were slower, focusing on interacting with the apprentices to see if information was being absorbed.

Honestly, this is a good question, I don't think any information through my NVQ actually helps me in the railway environment or when it comes to carrying out my job. It's good to know for general information I suppose as it helps me understand how certain tools work for example, or major projects like HS2, but I have not noticed the aid when it comes to the NVQ and work with the depot, some modules don't relate whatsoever. I am sure it does down the line, but for an apprentice it varies from depot to depot, some may only be driving the van, some may be out constantly. There is no definitive way on what apprentices should be doing as a job, other than learning, so some may only be shoveling constantly, or in my case, my first 6 or 7 months into the railway I remember most of my time just driving people around.

Social activities I am sure there are to a degree, occasionally Christmas or a specific special occasion, teams may get together for a social event, as for any sport activities, this is something I am aware of. I know in the past there has been certain events that have been accessible but I am not aware this is something ongoing.

Yes

I was hovering over no for a while. When it comes to the disciplines it is exceptionally important that the right role is selected, though all of the disciplines offer their own specific jobs and tasks, the railway itself is a stable place to work, and sometimes it's a really good job, but there is also bad days. The job itself is quite good, if you have the right job, I feel like I was put into the wrong one, but that is no fault of Network rail as an organization. There are many roles to choose from, and many directions to take, this justifies joining the organization.

It's a very different environment, and nothing really prepares you for the type of jobs you will be doing, and there is often no telling what the personalities are like of the people you are working with. This can be exceptionally challenging, I would suggest they enter with an open mine, try to get stuck in with everything, because even if you discover what may not be for you, you may identify a better discipline for you to go into, or you could do placements.