GDEP Trainee Review

by National Grid

Best Apprenticeship Employer

Rating

4.5/10

1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:

repairing and maintaining high pressure gas pipelines, under pressure drilling, stoppling, recompression, in line inspection, preparing for jobs. write-ups, training courses, progress reports. helping out in the depot with what different departments are doing. lots of driving, staying overnight.

2/10

2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?

lots of skills with tools, machinery, hands, van driving.

7/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

when the apprenticeship takes a backseat, the job is great

8/10

4. How well organised/structured is your programme?

Absolutely abysmal. no communication from the people working for grid running the programme. none whatsoever. nothing to us, nothing to mentors, nothing to depots. its been 18 months on this programme and i still dont know what they actually do. reviews that we have with them have nothing to with the job AT ALL, and are only about progressive, political stuff, radicalisation, inclusion and diversity , bullying and harassment. Zero mention of gas or site work

1/10

5. How much support do you receive from your employer?

Loads from the depot. central training department couldnt care less. they ask you if theres any problems, you say yes, they tell you to sort it without helping, they move on. Again, the depot/ line manager support is great.

5/10

6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?

genuinely dont know. i dont go to college for my programme

6/10

7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?

the course is only frustration, its awful, but i need the qualification to tick a box so i can do the job that is great. the job and the programme are VERY seperate

6/10

8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)

1/10

9a. Would you recommend National Grid to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

the job, the money, the longevity. not the course. definitely not the course.

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to National Grid?

avoid the current training programme