Signal Maintenance Technical apprentice Review

by Network Rail

Rating

5.8/10

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

I am currently in training towards achieving a qualification in Railway Signal Maintenance. The training ensures I will be competent in being able to carry out maintenance on various signal technologies that exist on the railway.

7/10

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

I have learnt and currently learning new skills as I progress through the apprenticeship.

8/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

The programme has been enjoyable for most of it.

7/10

4. How valued do you feel by Network Rail?

Really depends who you are communicating within the organisation, for instance instructors are far keener to appreciate apprentices, where as at depot it is slightly less organised in terms of the learning structure as it is a "get the work done" attitude and then leave for home after work is finished.

5/10

5. How well organised/structured is your programme?

The Structure of the programme could be tweaked in some areas if I am to be honest, I feel some things in the course are longwinded and unnecessary and I am currently in a depot where my line of work is not compatible with the current operations of my depot.

5/10

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

The training I receive from the training provider is good but is made far more difficult to achieve for some people in the class due to been placed in a Works delivery depot.

6/10

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

As I work in a Works Delivery depot that deals with the installation and upgrading works and that I am not getting much support in terms of having any relevant tasks that I can use for my coursework, I would say the support I have is currently poor.

3/10

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

1st year pay was awful, could barely scrape through the month with the pay I was given plus the overtime I was given from time to time was barely worth the hassle.

2/10

8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?

Plenty of opportunities outside of my working environment so there is

9/10

9. Would you recommend Network Rail to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

It is a very good place to work as in the railway it is always an ever expanding infrastructure.

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

Make sure you pay attention to all the tiny details and keep yourself clued up with the company.