Apprentice Review

The apprenticeship programme that I have been participating in includes going out with maintenance teams to carry out crucial maintenance tasks to ensure that trains are kept running on time. over the last 3 years I have taken part in various training courses to build my skills as I work towards finishing my apprenticeship. As an apprentice, I have had to manage my own time, liaising with managers and sorting out placements with different departments within the company to broaden my knowledge of the railway and how it works.

Through the apprenticeship programme I have been lucky enough to be able to participate in various training courses that are specific to the department within the railway that my apprenticeship is based. I have also been able to participate in ILM training level 2 and 3 over the course of my apprenticeship. The amount of knowledge that can be gained through this apprenticeship is staggering and specific to the department that I work in, helping my to gain a full time role when I finish the apprenticeship.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the apprenticeship at every level as I have worked through the apprenticeship. The work and people that I work with have been great and something that I have enjoyed very much. The company culture is something that I find good as well as it focuses on the safety of it's work force and I find this reassuring when I am out working.

I feel that apprentices are seen as a valuable asset to the department that they work in as the amount of training given to apprentices is very high. You also get the opportunity to lead tasks through the apprenticeship and get recognition for doing this which helps to build your confidence and skills and knowledge.

The apprenticeship programme that I have been participating in has been well structured but there have been times where better organisation may have been of benefit. Part of this is due to the fact that the apprenticeship has been restructured since I started the Apprenticeship so certain parts of my apprenticeship were cut, but on the whole the apprenticeship has been well structured and organised

When I have been on courses and completing the course work that goes along with the apprenticeship, the tutor that has been teaching me has always been on hand to answer any questions and explain things that I haven't understood correctly. The tutors have always had a good attitude towards supporting apprentices as they understand that certain people struggle with different things and not everyone learns in the same way.

The support that I have received from Network Rail as a whole has been good and I have received a good level of support from managers when I have asked for it. For example, when I have been sorting placements out with different departments, the managers have always made sure that the teams that I am going to be working with know that I am going to be with them etc.

The salary has been one of the hardest parts of the apprenticeship personally for me. Before I joined the apprenticeship I was earning decent money in my previous job and when I joined the apprenticeship the pay cut was a massive shock. I have been fairly lucky with living costs etc. as I still lived at home with my parents when I joined the apprenticeship, but it still put a financial strain on me during the apprenticeship. I had to get rid of my car and buy a cheaper, more economical car to afford to keep running it.

The opportunities that are available to the apprentices outside of work are very good. There is the opportunity to volunteer for a charity and we get 5 days volunteer leave a year for this. You also get the opportunity to go on external courses to further your learning and opportunities before you finish the apprenticeship.

Yes

I feel that Network Rail is a good company to work for as they are heavily invested in their workforce and if you show initiative you can get the opportunity to progress as far as you want. You also get very good benefits available to everyone that works for Network Rail through the happi rewards scheme.

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. I personally applied for the apprenticeship programme for 4 years and I am glad that I finally got on the apprenticeship. The opportunities that are available to you through doing this apprenticeship are amazing and if you work hard, the reward at the end of it will be well worth it.