S and T Apprentice Review

My role as an apprentice is to learn whilst helping out with the daily tasks at my chosen depot. I will go out with a team and learn all about what they are doing throughout the day, whilst also helping with this myself, therefore helping to learn by getting hands on with the tasks I have to know.

During my apprenticeship I have learnt a whole new set of skills. Since the apprenticeship began i have improved my communication skills vastly, as I have to work in an environment with many new people. I have also become more hands on, as this is a large part of what my apprenticeship is about.

I enjoy my apprenticeship scheme to a large extent. This is because I revel in the idea of being to earn whilst I learn, which has granted me a large amount of independence. I also really enjoy work outside, as this aspect of the job allows me to spend less time indoor and enjoy the fresh air, which I find helps me enjoy my work more.

I feel very values by network rail. This is because network rail as a company values its apprentices and treats them as any other member of staff. Examples of this are granting 28 days holiday a year, and also the company bonus. This helps me to feel like a true employee of the company, as opposed to just an apprentice.

I feel like my programme is very structured. This is because the first is year is residential, so it is very easy to have all of the courses neatly organised so that they are completed on time. During the second and third year, there are set periods of time in which to go back down south and conduct more training courses to help you in your apprenticeship course.

You receive a lot of support from the training provider. During any of the courses, all instructors are willing and ready to help an individual with any queries they may have and to try and help them as best they can. This also extends to when an apprentice is working at their depot, as many feel they can email an instructor if they have a query.

I feel the same level of support is also given by the training provider. This is because during the time spent at the depot, if any apprentice has a query or a question they are struggling with, managers and other members of staff are always willing to help out and give as much information as they can to they apprentice.

I feel that for an apprenticeship, the salary is very good, however as a young adult trying to live away from home, pay bills, have a car etc, I feel the wage can make this quite a struggle. In some cases apprentices are granted overtime which can help with this, however apprentices who are not allowed overtime do struggle more with the salary.

I do not feel that the company helps to encourage apprentices to look for extra oppourtunities outside of work. However, there are opportunities there, as I used my initiative to visit schools to give talks on apprenticeships, and also to help out on apprentice assessment days.

Yes

I would recommend the network rail advanced apprenticeship to a friend because I feel that is has given me so many opportunities that university never could. This is because I have the opportunity to earn a wage whilst I learn, and I know that once the course is completes I will have a fantastic career that will take me far in life.

My advice would be to keep an open mind. Sometimes, as with any job, it can seem tough or difficult and you may not enjoy it. But these moments will pass, and at the end of the day you are applying To a great company that will offer you many fantastic opportunities m, so go for it.