3rd year CAPEX aprrentice Review

I am a year 3 apprentice, I carry out faulting and maintenance and CAPEX work on the signalling system. I am normally based with CAPEX they carry out installation of signalling equipment.

I have developed lots of new skills these include leadership skills and skills while working on varying signalling assets and equipment. I have received many training course, SEM1 and 2 points fitting HW2000 and clap lock courses to name but a few. I have learnt how to maintain and fault on equipment as well as install.

working within a team has been a lot of fun and a good way to learn. It has meet my expectations and is a very good Apprenticeship to be on. I have enjoyed my time while on the apprenticeship.

I feel that I'm a valued member of the team and Network Rail has done well in the most part supporting me. there are some points due to a lack of experience that my views can sometimes be over looked. however on the whole I believe that I am valued and Network Rail has trained me and given me career path to follow.

the training program is good it has for the most part been structured well, but there are thing that I would improve, this would the studying side this could do with more support and better recourses available to the apprentices. the training that I have received has been of the highest quality and I am very grateful to have received it. task delegation was made clear what we had to do and when.

we receive a lot of support while training on our courses but then once back at depot we don't get as much support with our training. its more up to me to organise myself and placements for learning and sometimes this can be a struggle. I have enjoyed the experience and going forward I will take what I have learnt and apply it.

I have received a fair amount of support, but I feel that getting placements to carry out tasks that I need to complete my apprenticeship has been harder than it could have been. but the resources that have been given to me are good.

I believe that the salary is fair, however I believe that the pay could increase a bit in relation to living cost. on the whole I've been able to live off the money that I have earn and there is the opportunity to earn more with overtime. my commute to work is expensive as fuel costs for my car to fill it up in an average week I spend around £40 over a 4 week period this amounts to £160 that is a lot of money to commute to work, I cove between 250 mile to 300 miles in a week just to work. travelling by train would be hard as night shift would be hard to commute via the railway. social costs are fairly inexpensive and daily cost are also not very high.

there are not many events outside of work to socialise with work friends, the company do hold a BBQ every now and again, however if you are not on shift then you miss out and if you are on shift you may need to be out working and carry out faulting and maintenance.

Yes

The Career that I have in my opinion is the best I enjoy coming to work every day, the learning and training is good on the whole, and I get massive job satisfaction.

Have some faith in yourself, it was the best thing that I have ever done putting in for this, I have enjoyed every moment there have been high and low points during my apprenticeship, but I have gained valuable experiences and training.