Assistant Commercial Manager Review

My role at Network Rail includes helping to commercial manage a portfolio of different signalling projects. My tasks include evaluating and processing change from our contractors in line with the contracts, assessing and authorising our contractors application for payment and managing the internal budget on each of these different projects.

I have learnt many skills in my time with Network Rail, as I started as an apprentice straight out of secondary school so my knowledge about Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management was very limited. I have also learnt a lot about the Railway and the infrastructure that we use on it.

If by ‘programme’ you mean how much do I enjoy the university course that I am doing alongside my Job? I do not enjoy it massively, the lectures are okay but can be very long and a bit dry. Furthermore, the university seems to always give group projects which in my opinion aren’t very useful

The course itself is reasonably well organised with all lecture slides and information being available on the VLE, however some of the lecture halls have been overcrowded with people struggling to find somewhere to sit. Also, in our last assessment no organised seating was arranged prior to the start and it was very chaotic.

I receive ample support from my employer, I have the benefit of working with lots of experience commercial managers and quantity surveyors and they always happy to offer advice. Also, if I want to take study leave before my exams then they are more than happy for me to do that.

I can’t say that the support from the university has been brilliant. I am yet to receive an idea of what I need to do to achieve my RICS chartership. Also the lectures just give us our assessment and let us get on with it, which is fine for me

So far I have not seen a massive benefit with my role, mainly due to the fact I work for a government funded railway company which is usually the client in the contracts. Where as the course is catered to people working for contractors who build buildings and houses and not railway infrastructure

There are not too many sports teams or social events at my work. However, we are quite a social team and try to do stuff outside of the offices: ie charity days, inter office football matches, golf days. There is no pressure to do any of these things but they are good fun

Yes

Excellent company to work for, very focussed on the staffs well being. Lots of opportunities for personal development which I am benefitting from greatly. They also offer a good salary and are willing to give you opportunities to work on different projects. They also offer flexible working hours which is great

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