Apprentice maintenance technician Review

You start the apprenticeship at a training centre situated in Coventry for 21 weeks where you gain the majority of the educational qualifications, this is carried out by Babcock engineering. At the end of he 21 weeks you will then go to depot where you meet your team and manger and then you go into your working life and gain knowledge on a on the job basis. Throughout the 3 years you will be sent on training courses at HMS Sultan ad you will gain various railway qualifications for maintenance and faults in your chosen discipline

Since joining the apprenticeship I have learned many new technical terms through the level 3 electrical engineering technicians qualification I’ve gained in Coventry. I have also learned how to be more disciplined with punctuality and has made me significantly more organised. The apprenticeship has also taught me many new terminology on the railway. There is always something new I learn everyday

The apprenticeship is great it helps you to nurture into a team leader in the future. The apprenticeship is helpful as it provides you with a niche skill that enables you to work anywhere in the world and unlocks many new job opportunities in and out of network rail. Everyday coming into depot its fun and enjoyable and isn’t a day that goes by where I dread work

The programme is very well structured and organised, he first 21 weeks is almost like a fast track college programme to get your knowledge up to speed and then once you complete your first year you then rely on the calendar and your management team, the calendar for apprentices is well structured and clear.

From network rail you gain lots of support, the management from the company for the apprenticeship are always keeping in contact with you and making you feel extremely comfortable. If you require any extra help there is always someone on hand to lend help and assist on anything you might not be sure on

Babcock are extremely helpful as I’ve mentioned the first 21 weeks and basically the majority of the first year is carried out by Babcock so any training that’s required, if you need any extra help or have learning difficulties you can gain any help you may need. All in all a good training provider

The qualifications gained in the first year are helpful as they improve your knowledge with electrical engineering and becoming a knowledgable technician, the next set of training in Portsmouth at HMS Sultan is extremely helpful as it gives you the relevant qualifications and knowledge for the actual jobs you carry out on a day to day basis

Yes loads, there are lots of activities that are provided when you go to the residential stay in Coventry and this is done to a build a good relationship with all the other apprentices, there are activities such as quiz’s, sports events, charity events and many social events with everyone

Yes

I would recommend the company to a friend as the all round set up of the company is incredibly appealing there is obvious progression throughout he whole apprenticeship especially once the apprenticeship is completed having network rail on your cv goes a long way whether you want to become a manager or join another railway company

The advice I would give to someone looking to join network rail would be make sure you know what you want to do and where you want to take the qualifications. I would also say do not stress and worry the railway industry is massive and learning and progression comes over a very long period