Signalling Apprentice Review

by Network Rail

Rating

8.3/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

Currently I am doing the first year of my apprenticeship. This requires me to complete a NVQ, BTEC and ILM course. The first nine months are spent living away from home. Every week day I attend our academy and on Saturday mornings I either do the same or complete parts of our ILM course.

8/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

Yes, we learn a lot about working with electricity both theoretically and practically. The ILM programme has helped me to become a better public speaker.

10/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I have personally enjoyed the time away from home, making new friends and feeling apart of a well working team, within my class. My company has helped develop all of these.

9/10

4. How valued do you feel by Network Rail?

Network Rail has been good at trying to keep us involved with the rest of the company. Sending all of us to learn at a single place for the first year at great expense demonstrates this.

10/10

5. How well organised/structured is your programme?

The programme is organised far in advance and everybody knows what needs to be done. This includes teaching, contact with management and how our company works. Although I am worried about how this will be kept up during the second and third years.

7/10

6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?

It was made clear from the start that we could go to our instructors or one of the apprentice support officers with any issues or grievance.

9/10

6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?

Just like the training provider If we have a problem we can go to multiple people. We are also given a company e-mail address and access to the companies intranet that we can use to find things out for ourselves.

9/10

7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?

For the first year we are provided with accommodation, food, reduced travel and work clothing. The rest is ours to spend. I am worried about the amount we get in the second and third years how far it will go. I already know of somebody spending near enough 40% of their paycheck on travel alone.

6/10

8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?

Most of the time we are left to our own devices. Sure there are a few sporting activities and we can use the Navy's facilities but other than that this is where the scheme lacks.

7/10

9. Would you recommend Network Rail to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

It is one of the better apprenticeships around and gives you the opportunity to learn lots of interesting things and you can go on to be very successful.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Network Rail?

During the interview for the job I found that they asked a lot of 'give an example when' questions so being prepared for these will definitely help.