Apprentice Track Maintenance Engineer Review

My job title is an apprentice track maintenance engineer. I am based within Work Delivery and this is a pretty varied job for me as we specialise in renewals and odd jobs that nobody else wants. If I am out on track then I could be doing re-railing, stressing, sleeper changing, surveys, track inspections/monitoring, drainage installation. This is just a few things I could be doing on track, each day is very different. If I am in the office I usually help with planning for upcoming jobs and help complete the paperwork for them, it also gives me opportunity to catch up with my personal apprentice work.

Throughout the course of the apprenticeship I have gained an: NVQ level 2 & 3 in railway engineering, BTEC level 2 & 3 in engineering, level 2 & 3 in leadership and management. on top of these qualifications, I have gained internal training and received competencies such as : stressing level 1 & 2, 053/054 inspections, basic and supervisors visual inspections, personal track safety and track and S&C geometry to name a few. I learn new things everyday because every job is different, and can be done in different ways.

I do actually rather enjoy my job because I get on with my team extremely well. There is lots of banter within the track lads and also some in the office. The company culture is great and is designed so everybody is always looked after and felt like their voice is heard if they have any problems. This is the first job I have had where I don't wake up on a morning and think "I really do not want to go to work today". Being on track is my favourite though because as I say, everyday can be completely different and there is always a good vibe between work colleagues.

Being an apprentice can be difficult in some work places, but I feel as though Network Rail do look after me. I have heard some stories of some apprentices not doing very well or getting on with their management which didn't sound too pleasant but I feel like that is a rare case and sometimes, can often be the apprentices fault by not having the correct attitude. My workplace value me and have been left with quite a lot of responsibilities over the years which I find to be a good thing - it shows that they trust me to do a job well. Trust is a major thing. I get put in placements and within each placement I have always felt welcomed. I am now spending time with project managers and programme managers which is great as I really get to see how a job is planned out from start to finish from quite high up.

I initially had 6 months living at Coventry in Network Rails fancy training complex which felt like I was staying in a hotel. Throughout this time I went home every other weekend (had to pay for my own travel) and then a couple of long weekends where travel was paid for. Once that was completed you are then sent to your depots to begin work with your team gaining experience and knowledge. Through this time you are required to go down to Gosport to receive further training for 2 weeks at a time, and this happens 6/7 times in total. You are also required to go to wales for 1 week to complete your level 3 in leadership and management. My team is organised well and all understand who is in charge at every job. tasks are delegated out well and if I ever ask to go on a job I am always allowed on, so I am basically in charge of my own development. in some instances my manager wants me to go on a specific job as he believes it would be good for me to see, which they always are.

You don't hear anything from the training providers at all unless you ask for help, otherwise they will assume that everything is hunky dorey and you're doing fine. I have no problem with this as I generally have no issues but I believe the support is there if you ask for it. When you are actually down in the training centres then obviously they are there to help and are very good at it, they make sure you don't leave until you know exactly how to do something.

I receive a good amount of support from my workplace if I ask for it. generally I don't hear from the HR Team unless they want something from me which is fair enough. My work colleagues are always happy to help me and if I ever require them to mentor me I always ask and they always say yes that's no problem, and then they help train me up on the job which is great. I've not really had many problems and if I have I just ask someone in the office of who I need to contact and they always point me in the direction I need.

I'll admit the initial salary at first doesn't seem great at all. When I first started I was on £8618 a year which is rubbish compared to my last job, however if you think about it I was having my cost of living basically reduced to 0 for the first 6 months as I was living away in Coventry, having everything supplied for me. in my second year my salary has bumped up to £13500 which is a huge jump and I actually have managed to get a mortgage, a car and am expecting a baby and still managing to live life pretty well. (my partner earns around the same as me) I don't go out drinking much anymore though so that saves me a tonne of money as a night out could cost me anywhere from £40-80. Once you get qualified though you will be on the big bucks and will be able to live extremely comfortably. This is all great as well as whilst getting paid all this I am still gaining qualifications which in my eyes is 10000% better than going to university.

Yes, there is opportunities for everything pretty much, if you want to do it. There are company events such as business briefings that you can attend to if you want to, you just need to book yourself on. You are welcomed to do voluntary work in which Network Rail gives you 5 paid days to go and so anything you wish that is for charity, and will support you in doing so. They offer company extras such as eye care and healthcare. Often the team I'm in goes out on evenings for meals and drinks and we occasionally do events like going to horse/dog racing.

Yes

Because they look after you extremely well, you get paid half decent money and it only gets better. There is overtime opportunities available if you wish to earn more. You have a healthy amount of annual leave to take. The job in itself is extremely varied which for me is great as I can get bored extremely easily. It's an outside and inside job so you get the best of both worlds (especially in summer, however winter isn't great, it gets very cold!).

The application process for me I thought was quite long winded. You have to go through the online tests which aren't too bad. You then need to do the ability tests such as maths, English, logic, mechanical etc. (they are designed so you can't complete them so just take your time and make sure what you do is correct) quality over quantity. once that is complete you then have a phone interview which assesses your knowledge on the company/why you want to join/what you can bring to the company etc. If you pass this you are then required to go to the final test which is the assessment centre, here you will have a welcome and introduction with network rail, explaining who we are and what we do. You then spend the day talking to current and ex apprentices, group exercise, Q&As and then a face to face interview. This interview basically assesses your character and how you will fit into the company. I advice for this would to be yourself, not over confident/cocky but not shy either. Just be chatty and show a good work ethic and you will fly through.