CPD Engineering Apprentice Review

Acting Delivery Engineer for Points and Crossings team 1. Plan and deliver a points and crossings renewal in open sections of the underground. We remove ols assets of the track and replace it with new assets to help reduce lost customer hours and improve the general safety of the track.

I have had to impart skills from other engineers thought my time here. It's a whole new world planning and delivering within the Underground. Everything we do is completely different to anything anyone can imagine. I had to start learning all over again because i was not familiar with anything to do with the railway industry when i first joined.

Having the opportunity to plan and deliver my own renewal is a fantastic opporunity for me. Engingeers always get praised and recongised for the amount of time and effort that goes into the planning process of each and every job we plan. For me that is something i really do enjoy. We are always kept bust throughout the year and every time i plan a job i get to meet new people from all over the organisation on the way.

I feel as if i am an importany asset for the TFL. They see myself and other apprentices throughout the organisation as the future.

At the very early stages of the apprenticeship we had to attend various courses before being allow to access the track during traffic and engineering hours. My manager spent a whole week covering the keys points/assets we needed to know before start our placements. Overall i have attend 6 difference departments throughout the London Underground Organisation. This gave me a good indication of what career path i would like to take after my course. I originally signed up for just the level 2 apprenticeship scheme. That quailifcation would of allowed me to work as a Track Delivery Unit Operative working permenant nights in the tube sections of the LUL system. After attending my last placement (My current position) i decided to take on the engineering role/path. For this to happen i would need to complete a level 3 qalification. Due to that my contract needed to be extended by an additional 18 months making a total of 3 years as an apprentice if i wanted to become an engineer. Since then i have only 9 months left until i complete my egineering course and i will then become a qaulified engineer for LUL. I feel as if my team don't treat me as an apprentice anymore as see me a competate engineer, for me that is a great achievement.

I recieve a huge amount of support. If i need to attend various courses which benefits my development they will no hesistate to put me on the course.

All the support i need/require is avaible to me. My Line manager Clive Maxwell deals with any problems i may have. My placement manager [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] is the person who provides support with anything to do with my role in his team. Even people from highes roles in the company provides me with support I.E [This section of the comment has been removed by a member of the RateMyApprenticeship Team because it did not meet our site terms and conditions] (Programme Director of Infrustructure. He personally gave me his number in case i had any questions/ problems at work. For someone who is constantly busy each and every day to say "Dan you can call me at time of the Day/Night" just shows how much eveyone in this industry wants to look after the apprentices. They see use as the future of the underground

Overall i cannot complain with my salary. I earn above and beyond the majourity of apprenticeship schemes. I get 75% off my season ticket, free oyster card, final salary pension scheme and much more.

I have attend around 4-7 events within the past 2 years of my time here including a photo shoot which will be used to promote apprenticeship schemes for TFL. I have also attended 2 different events in regards to giving feedback to people from various schools who are thinking about joining/starting an apprenticeship scheme.

Yes

Final salary pension scheme secure job good salary overtime free oyster card nice/friendly staff progression promotions avaiable courses to attend which are all free 29 days holiday a year plus bank holidays even as an apprentice. company phone company car/van to use over weekends 75% off my season ticket which would normally cost me £2k. LUL gave me a loan for the £2k as well

You'll need to give a good reason on why you want to join the underground I.E don't say good money!. To gain a job you'll need to be excited to join the company. You don't need previous experience within the railway industry. I went from a County cricket coach for surrey with only 5 A-C grades. The opportunity is there for anyone who wants to join but you do need a cetain level of understanding with maths. If your application is successful enough you'll complete 3-4 online tests. If you pass those you'll be invited to a team building day. If you are then successful with that you'll be invited to a final interview. I am proud to say out of over 700 applications i was 1 of 7 to get the job. That's not because that was the maximum, it was due to us 7 being suitable for the job role. You can ask anyone in my apprenticeship scheme and they will all agree with me. We don't see this company as a temporary job. We all see this as a long term opportunity to work for this company. When we all retire i can assure you the majority of us will still be working for the LUL.