Apprentice engineer Review

Well in the first year it's getting paid to study a BTEC and a NVQ, you also get paid to better yourself in communicating effectively and learn how to be a team leader and helps to build your confidence by going out on expeditions on country walks and that to learn how to be a team. In the second and third year we are actually out on the track with the people we will be working with and fully learning our trade and gaining valuable experience and skills to take forward in your career.

In my apprenticeship so far i have learnt why it is so important to communicate clearly and how to be a good team member who is a valid member of the team and also how to lead a team even when i don't think the task is possible. I have also learnt the importance of safety in my industry. I will be getting an ILM level 2 a BTEC and a NVQ in year one and in years 2 and 3 i will be getting a another NVQ and ILM level 3

I enjoy my time when doing my apprenticeship, this is because they give you a chance to learn a trade and get qualifications while getting paid and making new friends and experiencing moving away from home for a period of time which is a new thing for most people on the course. They also give you a lot of time to do new activities and learn more about who you can really become.

I feel very valued as apprentices going into an already formed team is a scary idea, but in fact the team appreciate the fact your learning and will have new ideas on how to do things or won't be sure on what to do so they look after you and mentor you and the managers treat you the same they will try to help us and give us the motivation and encouragement when its due.

Our program is well organised, you have different subjects so you can keep interest and everything is planned in advance so you have plenty of time to know what you have to prepare for, for example country walks and team leader roles are all planned in advance so you can do your own research if required and they have apprentice support officers if we have any problems and also learning support officers in case you are struggling with something.

We are being taught our ILM, NVQ AND BTEC in year 1 by Babcock, all the instructors are extremely friendly and will go out of their way to help you with anything you need help with. Also they are not like teachers they treat you like adults and let you have a laugh with them and they even run sessions after work so you can catch up if your running behind or failed something

Network rail encourages everything we do and gets a report on everything we do, they give us praise and positive rewards if we do lots of things correct these are called AARs and they can be both positive and negative but they support you with any problems you have and take time out of their day to organise and run events in their time off as well

Our salary for the first year is very good considering we do not have to pay for food, accommodation or travel to and from work. so the money we get every month we can spend it on what we want with no expenses unless we go out places after work but it is a great opportunity to save money and put you in a good financial position.

Out side of work they organise trips to do like go southampton or they organise events like go-karting & paint balling and help fund some of the cost involved for it and provide lunch for the trips. They also have a swimming pool and a gym open and also organise football matches between apprentices and other sporting activities within activities and also organise non sporting events like darts, pool competitions, quiz nights, xbox games nights ect

Yes

This is because Network Rail is a good company to work for and is a fair company. Everyone within the company has a fair chance to progress their careers to as far as they want to go. They also pride themselves upon safety and equality and diversity so everyone has the same chance of getting a job. The employees and managers are really friendly and helpful.

I would say be honest within your application and be really enthusiastic about it, i would also say do your background knowledge on the company and look keen and if you get to an assessment centre turn up smart like in a suit, get involved and not to worry about it and just be yourself.Also when doing the online assessments think it through and check your answers and believe in yourself. Be confident