Apprentice Review

I am an Apprentice at Network Rail. I am working towards becoming a Signalling Technician after 3 years of training. So far I have yet to go to depot so I cant comment on my time there but so far my time at Westwood as been pleasant, with lots of variation in lessons and instructors to keep us on our toes. We tend to be with the same instructor for multiple days and this allows us to bond better as a team and with the instructor so that we work better.

Via my PTS, my DC CR and my PTS AC, I have learnt multiple different safety methods and ideas as to avoid or the harsh parts of the job, so that there is much less chance of me having an accident on the track. Since being at Westwood, I have learnt a great deal of skills through my different learning units so that I now have confidence in my ability to do wiring, test said wiring and provide maintenance and fault find on sets of wiring.

I enjoy everything. The team at Westwood are really inviting and accommodating so make our stay here much more beneficial and easier for us all. The work itself is presented in a fun way for the most part and the instructors in the majority are of a high quality and easily connect with us and as such make the work time much more enjoyable. it has met my expectations and then some.

While I appreciate what our standing in the company is, I feel like we are not valued correctly at Westwood. we tend to be treated like children a great deal of the time and while we do get recognition from the instructors and from Mark Pell if we've done exceptionally well, this happens too and far between and as such I don't feel that I am valued currently.

The programme seems a bit hap-hazard, with adjustments being made to the program mid way through while were still doing the previous program plan. There is constantly information being missed due to miscommunication and misunderstanding and also many members of the programme provide different information from each other, causing confusion through the apprentices as were having our wires crossed.

Our training is really well done. our instructors for the most part are well vetted and really knowledgeable in their chosen subject. The help is always available if we need it and I feel that the instructors really go out of their way to make sure that they have fully taught us everything we need to know and that we are completely confident to be able to continue with our work.

Our employer tries really hard. The help is always available if we need it and I feel that the employers really go out of their way to make sure that we feel welcome in our new jobs and that they make sure that we are completely confident to be able to fulfil our requirements for our job.

While the money greatly increases later on, the money currently is literally just enough to provide for each month. Luckily enough we are provisionally due a pay rise so as such the burden should become lesser but currently, the amount of disposable income at the end of the month is miniscule.

There has been a few volunteering opportunities for with the aim to talk to potential future apprentices to let them know about the good future prospect that being a Network Rail apprentice is. there is also multiple chances to participate in sports within the company, whether it be for charity, competition or any other opportunity.

Yes

As an opportunity, Network Rail is one that cant be missed. there is so much future need for apprentices in this industry and as such its a great job to get into. the pay gets really good, the training is really good and also have great future prospects and can take you anywhere in the world

do it, and do it well. Try to be the best you can be and if you don't get it the first time, keep trying, because you will be able to do it.