Track Apprentice Review

I am a network rail apprentice where i spend the first 9 months traning on HMS Sultan doing ILM level 2, a BTEC and NVQ in mechcanial engineering After this I go to my local maintenance depot and go on placements with all the different departments on the railway so that i can get an understanding on how what one department does effects another.

I have learn't lots of new skill on this course as we are constanly being put on training courses that give us new skills to be able to carry out specfic jobs on the rail. This is on top of the NVQ, BTEC and ILM qualifications

Its an really enjoyable programe as there is high levels of team work and you are constantly surrounded by experiance. The company are also really good and look after you as employees. It is also very varying in the day to day running as there is so much information to take in, this makes every day different.

I feel very valued by everyone that i have worked with including my manager as they understand the purpose of me here is not just cheap labour, but to learn, develop skill and to improve my knowage of the railway. This really is a world class apprentship. I also get to be involed in big projects such as track renewals and the replacment of bridges. This also furhters my experiance of the railway, as well as civil engineering

It is very well organised, from the moment of starting I have had a paln of what I'm doin, where i can get support, my training dates of coureses and i also under go 12 weekly reviews so that i can raise any concers with my line manger.

I retrieve all the support that i need from the company, we even have a confidential helpline, that we can used for any sort of issue weather it is work or personal related.

The employer gives use lots of support from a range of places e.g. line manger, HR and CareFirst. They are always there to try and help you rather than pass off an issue

Compared to other apprenticeshipes this is quite well paided,in the first year all of your living costs are paided for ontop of your wage and all of the you travel to training locations is also covered.

There are a few opportunites out of work hours, such as soical meet ups, and so areas also have there own football team. When in portsmouth there where also trips organised, as part of the ILM course

Yes

Because there are very few other courses that offer the same oppertunity and experiances that this course has on offer.

To be honest, willing to learn and to respect all of the knowlage that you will be surrounded with