Rating

8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Surveying works on site using various 3D and 2D methods to ascertain track geometry. Office related paperwork including health and safety related works. Some of the projects that i have worked on have been very high profile jobs like the Christmas renewal works at westbury and even some works for HS2

    7/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • I have learnt a variety of new skills such as how to operate all of the surveying equipment that gets used almost every week. I have also learnt a great deal about the railway and how it operates. Understanding and learning the track standards is another important thing that i have learned

    7/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I very much enjoy the programme so far. This programme gives me the opportunity to work in locations all around the country. Working in so many different places means that every job is different and each comes with its own set of challenges. I love that no two days are the same.

    7/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The course starts with an induction into the company followed by some mandatory health and safety related learning. After this there are regular 1-week 'block releases' where we train at a training centre. After the block release we then return to our designated depots where we work alongside competent engineers and get hands-on experience for all of the theoretical learning that we do on the block releases.

    8/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • My employer has provided great support throughout the course. I was assigned a mentor that is very easy to approach and is more than happy to help me out with any questions i have. My employer has also been willing to provide me with additional courses outside of the apprentice scheme that have helped to further my knowledge

    10/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • Our training provider gives us as much help as possible. We are able to contact our trainer whenever we have any issues or questions and he always responds quickly. His guidance has been excellent and he has been a massive help for all of the apprentices and his enthusiasm is one of the things that makes the apprenticeship so enjoyable

    9/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • Every piece of information learned on the apprenticeship is valuable. The course was specifically tailored to railway engineering meaning that there is nothing being taught that we cannot use on a day-to-day basis. After the week training blocks we then get to put all of this training to use by working on jobs alongside qualified engineers giving us both practical and theoretical knowledge.

    9/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • Depending on where you work there are quite a few extra curricular events that take place. The company regularly has a small 5-aside football tournament that anyone can sign up and take part in. There are also occasionally volunteer days that take place to help out members of the community

    7/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Colas Rail to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • Colas Rail gives one of the best railway apprentices that you can get at the moment. As one of the UKs leading railway companies there is always work making it a solid career choice with great opportunity for career progression. Combine this with a reasonble pay to match and it becomes an amazing career opportunity


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Colas Rail?
  • The application process is very in-depth and consists of several stages to progress through before even getting an interview. The assessment day (the final stage) is very detailed too and a lot of the people you meet on the day are managers and other staff that you will work with on a regular basis.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Engineering

West Midlands

February 2019


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