Apprentice Review

My role is to learn about various parts of my future job in telecoms such as electronics and communication technology, as well as learning how to perform maintenance on them as that is what the technician role requires. As an apprentice I get to watch these activities done by fully qualified technicians and learn the best techniques to use for a job so I can put them into practice myself.

I have learnt many new things about electrical components and wiring, such as what certain components like capacitors and bridge rectifiers are used for, as well as the best techniques to use when wiring up a work piece so it is as efficient as possible. I have developed technical skills such as soldering but have also improved my soft skills like teamwork and communication as it is essential in this line of work.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme as it has enabled me to develop many skills in such a short time frame that will allow me to thrive once I am fully qualified to work on my own as a technician. I also enjoy watching the fully qualified technicians do their job on a day to day basis when at depot because it gives me a true insight into what the job is really like.

While we are given a full schedule at the start of the programme, it is changed very often and when it comes to dates for our technical training details are very vague until very close to the time, which is not ideal. While some things are made very clear to us, a lot of key details are sometimes missing from the information we get and it could be better.

I receive lots of support from my employer when it comes to my learning, and I am given good opportunities to ask any questions I feel are necessary about my programme. They also give me plenty of time at my depot to get a good idea about what daily life will be like one I am there full time.

I receive great support from my training provider as they always give me the necessary resources to complete any of the assignments I am given and provide after-hours sessions for if I require any extra help. The trainers communicate well and always give instruction on how I can improve in the future.

My qualification helps me perform better in my job role because it gives me the fundamental knowledge and skills that I require to be able to understand why each job I do is required as well as the correct way to perform any maintenance that may be necessary. The content I am taught also allows me to conduct every bit of work safely and to the correct standard.

There are some extra curricular activities to get involved in, which includes a 'house cup' competition. This includes taking part in a few different sports such as badminton, basketball and swimming, but it also includes things for people who may not like sports such as general knowledge quizzes amongst other things.

Yes

They have a very good apprenticeship that has enabled me to develop skills and learn more things in a few months than in my two years in college prior. There is no essential information in any subject that is missed and if the work is done correctly then it is an excellent launch pad to a successful career.

The advice I would give to others applying to Network Rail is to know what your goals are before joining so they can see how much you want to succeed as with this company the sky is the limit. I would also advise them to ensure that they choose the correct part of the business for them as if you enjoy what you do there is a huge opportunity to develop vast amounts of knowledge in that field.