Transport Planning Apprentice Review

Daily tasks involve writing and responding to emails and writing reports. I am responsible for planning the inception and early stages of transport projects, with a particular focus on rail extensions. My work primarily surrounds the Bakerloo line extension and I am currently assessing the feasibility of various locations for new stations on the Old Kent Road.

Naturally. I am much more confident when presenting and in communicating with various colleagues, and the general public. I am able to run, develop and validate transport models. I have learned how to use new computer software- such as the ArcGIS and MapInfo mapping tools. I have learned how to write in a non-emotive and professional style. I would note that formal training opportunities at work are essentially non-existent, due to budget cuts, which I do believe has hindered my development.

I really do enjoy working at TfL and I am very proud to represent the TfL brand- I love telling people I work here. Work is varied and I am very well supported. A placement structure means that I get to work in different teams across the organisation. The benefits are also excellent. Although I am essentially guaranteed a job at the end of my programme, given that I am part of the first ever cohort, this cannot be said for newcomers. Some placement managers have seemed disinterested in apprentices and I felt poorly managed. The apprenticeship has been extended due to delays with the CIHT (Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation) putting together an End Point Assessment (meaning I spend longer as an apprentice). The prospect of a degree Transport Planning apprenticeship at TfL is unlikely as there are no London-based universities that will be running the course (and TfL won't pay to ship us off to Birmingham or Bristol. I feel that graduates are largely favoured over apprentices and are seen as being more competent, despite my 2 and a half years in the industry and being more than capable of completing complex and challenging tasks. I studied at Leeds College of Building, but work in London. It was a super fun experience to get to go and study in two week blocks up there. The course content was mostly high quality- but I clashed with one tutor in particular who I do not think was very good at his job. I got to go on a "Euro trip" to the Netherlands and Germany to study Transport there which was completely excellent.

It has improved. Honestly when I started it was very much all over the place- the academic side especially. We did not learn how the 3 training parts of the scheme would come together until very late in the process. Some teething problems are of course likely with a new scheme but the incompetence I witnessed from my training provider was... exceptional in some instances. I believe there are still some ongoing issues. On the TfL side, things are generally better although roll off [into a permanent position] has been delayed and it is not fully clear where positions will be available despite a year of conversations about this, placements have been changed at the last minute and we have a limited say in where we actually work (unlike graduates), uplifts in my pay have been delayed for no good reason. I know that the apprentices in later cohorts have had a better experience. I was part of the guinea pigs as I'm frequency told...

Lots of support- I feel that I can approach almost anyone if I have a problem. I have a line manager, placement manager, sponsors, HR etc. Any issues that have arisen have been dealt with swiftly. My employer supports me in the completing my apprenticeship and has always been understanding throughout the personal difficulties I have faced over the past couple of years.

All staff at Leeds College of Building have been very supportive in helping me gain qualifications and have stressed the importance of work experience AND qualifications. Despite it's faults, I had a positive experience at Leeds College of Building and have never felt like I didn't have anyone I could talk to.

I feel that the academic part of the scheme is very 'light-touch' and, whilst it did give me an overview of the profession itself, there was a lack of depth content wise. For instance we learned about the various functions of transport modeling software and but not once did we actually get to use the software. The BTEC qualification itself I think is really not recognised and meaning anything- it was a pass or fail course and the minimum grade (percentage) to pass an assignment was 40% which means that you really didn't have to try very hard to pass. Whilst I achieved a high percentage average many of my colleagues did not. Saying this though, I didn't join TfL because I wanted a qualification. I simply wanted to enter the industry and work for this organisation specifically. I also really enjoyed the course despite its shallowness. The understand that EngTech qualification I am working towards through completion of the End Point Assessment holds much more substance- but I do not class this as being part of the apprenticeship as it is so segregated from all other work.

There are different clubs and groups- notably there is a women's 'society,' LGBT 'society' (Outbound) and BAME 'society.' actual quality of these I don't know. I am a member of Outbound but honestly I find their engagement with apprentices to be very poor- they had a whole event to welcome Graduates to TfL one year and did nothing for apprentices (why does TfL love grads so much more???) My comments and suggestions on this were also seemingly ignored. It is a shame as I would really like to be a part of this group but it seems like they don't want me. There is a large apprentice community and I believe a social committee for us. Drinks etc are organised regularly. Aside from these there are sports clubs but I do not have any interest in these so cannot comment.

Yes

Honestly the benefits alone are good enough reason- good pension plan, 30 days annual leave, free travel in London, discounted season and Eurostar tickets. But more importantly than this I feel like my employer cares about my wellbeing, the work is very interesting and current and I'm mostly happy at work. As an apprentice, I believe this is maybe one of the best places to work- there is a large apprentice community and from what I have heard from colleagues working for other organisations TfL has it best. Salary is very good (for an apprentice) and increases significantly after roll off.

Only apply if you have a genuine interest in your specific field, and probably transport as a whole. It is unbelievably frustrating when I see members of the newer cohorts disengaged and uninterested... or on their phones in meetings!!!! Really?!?!?! Do your research and display a genuine interest if you really want the job. Someone in the group activity, that I also participated in and is a second part to the interview, did not know what Crossrail was.... *buries head in face.* Recruiters are not looking for expert skills- you're not supposed to know everything already. Make sure that in any group activity you collaborate and do not dominate. Show that you have the TfL competencies.