Level 3 Rail Engineering Apprentice Review

My role involves performing maintenance tasks on the railways lines, ensuring that it's safe to run trains. This can include patrolling inspections to jobs such as rail changes.

It has increased my technical knowledge on the track and how the railways work. It has also increased my communication and listening skills as well as data handling skills.

I enjoy the manual experience my job provides as well as a range of courses, internally and externally, I have to attend. It helps break up the months.

The programme is well organised and constantly updating to improve the apprentice's experience

I receive lots of support from my Apprentice Development Coach, who helps guide me to complete all my apprenticeship work on time and to a complete standard, and my line manager who is always available for any questions I have.

I receive a lot of support from my ADC, with progress reviews and catch up calls to check how I'm getting on and if I need any more support. As I am dyslexic, I need extra support when completing work, I was provided with overlays and a reader pen to help me read.

The training helps me get a better understanding of the mechanisms of the rail whilst also teaching me general engineering skills and applying these skills to the railway.

With my team, we often go out after work for food and drinks. There are also other sporting events that occur between local depots

Yes

I'd recommend them as there are plenty of job opportunities that can arise from the apprenticeship. Depending on what you go into, you can also learn other skills from the other courses. There are a wide range of jobs, so if you fancy a change then you are able to do so

As it is a safety critical job, you need to take this into account. Safety on the railway is a number one priority, ensuring you and your colleagues are safe. You need to want to work in all types of weather and have a willingness to learn