Apprentice Review

At the start of the apprenticeship I had a number of different placements, with all different parts of the company. After I had completed this as I was a p-way apprentice I mainly carried out maintenance tasks out on the track or was part the tech team in the office.

During the apprenticeship I have up the skills needed to do the day to day job of the maintenance team. This includes fixing fault on the track, such as broken sleepers or changing the chairs. Also, the apprenticeship scheme has given me a number of tickets such as switch inspection and stressing of the rail, which would be harder to get if I didn't do the apprenticeship.

I have enjoyed certain placements more than others, which I have used to help me know what job I want after the apprenticeship is finished. Where I have reports to write for network rail and an external company, this means that many reports I have to write are repeated and this is needed to be done outside of work which isn't to enjoyable.

When I go on new courses I can then plan in to go on the placement with that team to help put in to practice what I had learnt. For example after learning about S&C I had two weeks with that team to carry out the S&C inspections. I would say it mainly depends on yourself and how well you organise your placements.

There are 12 weekly reviews where you and your manager can discuss what placements you need to complete and what reports are needed to be done and before what deadline. When asking to go on placements the managers are good at getting you time with the teams and giving you any paperwork that you ask for.

The training provider gives us briefs on any reports that need to be completed with paperwork with the instructions on too. The courses they offer are detailed and the teaching there is good. A negative is that some details about the course change halfway through, such as how to write the reports.

By going on the training courses that the apprenticeship offer, it allows for us to get skills and tickets that we wouldn't be offered if joined the company not as an apprentice. Many of the jobs learnt out on track though are just needed to be picked up from learning from your team.

In the actual workplace at the depots there are charity events, such as cake sales. However, there aren't really any sporting activities to do. At Westwood there are many sporting activities that you can do, with there being a gym, swimming pool and courts. There are also a number of different charity events.

Yes

At the end of the scheme there are good job opportunities, which you could only get from the apprenticeship rather than coming straight in to it from the street. However, I would also say that you should only do it if you don't mind working nights and often on the weekend.

If you want to join Network rail you should be Ok with working on nights and weekends. The beginning of the apprenticeship you will be away for 21 weeks as well. When you are first at depot try to go on as many placements as you can so you can know understand better what you want to do after it.