Signals maintanance engineer Review

by Network Rail

Rating

6.4/10

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

day today for the first 6 months im based in a training facility including bored and lodging to work 8 till 4 each day to give a base level of knowledge, after that the next 2 and a half years I work directly with teams

8/10

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

if developed my electrical installation skills as well as having a better understanding of health and safety and doing risk assessments and working towards a level 3 award from the institute of leadership managment

7/10

3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?

I mostly enjoy my program and the group im set with but we seem to cover a lot we already know or understand despite doing tests previous to the lessons themselves and some class's would be better set before others also powerpoints are soul destroying

6/10

4. How valued do you feel by Network Rail?

very, they seem to be takeing the time and effort to make sure we get to a level needed by them and give us the skill to move forward with our carrer

9/10

5. How well organised/structured is your programme?

not very it seems to be lots of sections that should support each other but have no connection in the time table, some classes have 2 week gaps in them while others are 10 days straight

4/10

6a. How much support do you receive from your training provider?

not a lot but I havnt gone and asked, it definetly seems to run as a approach them and ask for help instead of help offered, mostly the the class just supports each other

5/10

6b. How much support do you receive from your employer?

not a lot but I havnt gone and asked, it definetly seems to run as a approach them and ask for help instead of help offered, mostly the the class just supports each

6/10

7. How well does your salary/package meet your costs?

not very well as someone who has a house and wife to support aswell, if it wasn't for the part in the training center for the first 6 months I probably wouldn't cope for the first year but its better then other apprentiships and gets better in the second to support us more at home

7/10

8. Are there many opportunities outside of work?

the gym and social aspect of having us all living on site is good but the time constraint at night can be an issue if you want to sleep else where and not allowing long term partners to occasionally stay in our rooms causes a wedge in my marriage when added to the short weekends

6/10

9. Would you recommend Network Rail to a friend?

Yes

9b. Why?

because for all the effort and complaints if I put the time in now it should set me on a carrer for life with decent skills and options and they do try and make it as supportive for the apprentices as possible for what they have

10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Network Rail?

keep working at it through all the interviews and bits and work hard with no life away from it for the 1st 6 months then it gets better and you will make friends for life while at westwood