Telecommunications Apprentice Review

I am a telecommunications engineering apprentice currently in Gloucester. Each day I am tasked with faulting and maintaining certain pieces of telecoms equipment out and about on the operational railway. I work with a team of people who have been doing the job themselves for a few years and have taught me through my apprenticeship.

I have earned ILM Level 3 and also will obtain an NVQ Level 3 in Railway Engineering. Internally I have been on many course whether these be safety related or more related to my role and the skillset that I will require when I am released from the apprenticeship. I will have learned a number of transferrable skills that I can then take with me to other companies should I require it in the future.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the job at the depot with members of the team. They have accepted me well as a member of the team and I have learned a lot of valuable experience throughout my time there. I have also enjoyed the training courses I have been sent on with the apprenticeship and feel they have taught me a lot of valuable skills that will aid me in my job.

I feel well valued by my manager who has been willing to help me with anything that I have had a query with throughout my time as an apprentice. The members of staff and trainers have always been helpful and have been fast to respond to any queries I have had.

The induction to the scheme was good, we were invited to the training establishment on HMS Sultan to see the facilities and accommodation that we would be staying in throughout first year. The support of the staff has always been excellent whenever it has been required. I personally feel that the apprenticeship has gone smoothly and my progression has been good throughout the scheme.

I personally have had a lot of support from my training provider wherever it was necessary. He has always been available to call or e-mail whenever I have had any queries and responded and helped me wherever possible, as well as passing me on to other people who may be able to help should he not be able to.

My manager has always been very interactive with me, willing to send me on training courses outside of the scheme to get me the relevant competencies necessary to be able to complete my job successfully on the completion of the apprenticeship. My mentor has been willing to teach me everything required and aid me in the completion of my NVQ's, allowing me to take control of tasks and further myself within the company.

The salary of the apprenticeship is very acceptable, it has been more than enough to accommodate my living costs. Any travel that I have required to undertake as part of the apprenticeship has always been paid for by the company so I have not had to concern myself with that. The location of my depot is pretty well placed as it is around 40minutes travel time to work.

There are many opportunities of ways to get involved outside of work though I have not personally taken part in many of these myself. I completed a 10km run for charity with Network Rail where we raised money for CLIC Sargent. Network Rail are always getting involved with local schemes for members of the public that are situated around the railway.

Yes

I would recommend Network Rail to a friend as the apprenticeship has the promise to provide you with a job where required at the end. The training is all very enjoyable and has provided me with valuable skills that I feel can help me to undertake my job successfully in the future.

Some advice I would give to someone applying to Network Rail would be to not be turned away from the apprenticeship if you feel you know nothing about the railway. It is all taught to you from the very beginning and you get to know your infrastructure throughout the apprenticeship.