Apprentice Review

On a day to day basis as a apprentice technical engineer I plan the technical side of track renewals by looking at designs and creating paperwork that will be taken out to site for the renewal. I also get involved with the weekend work which involves using technical equipment such as total station and lasers.

I have learnt plenty of new skills and existing skills such as working within a team and also working alone. I have learnt to deal with different situations in under pressure conditions really well. I also gained plenty of knowledge looking at designs and gathering information to help me progress in my field.

I enjoy the program that I am on very much. I have learnt so much over the past year and a half and have made good friends within the company. The training that we do in block release is very helpful and its a good laugh catching up with the other apprentices from different depots

The apprenticeship scheme is very well organized considering we was the first apprentices to actually do the course. I think the structure of the course and the way we go to Birmingham to do our block release training is planned really well and were always learning new things every time we go up there.

The support I get from my team is good. They are always there when I need to ask a question and always help me out when I get stuck on something. They have helped me sort my English out and helped me revise for my test to complete my apprenticeship.

The amount of support I get from the training provider is so good they help explain everything so well. They have informed us about our end point assessment really well and made it very clear of what the requirements are to complete the end point assessment and what we need to revise for.

I feel very confident in the training we do on block release. It helps me out a lot when I come back to the depot to help deliver jobs and be a key part in the team. We learn new things in training that we can use in our depots and help us on a day to day basis

There are multiple sports and social activities that colas rail put on through out the year. I was involved in the annual colas football tournament where we entered a team from our depot to compete against other depots for the trophy. They also arrange a military challenge for the apprentices aswell

Yes

Colas Rail is an excellent company to work for. They look after you in multiple ways such as health care, holiday pay, good pension, cycle to work scheme and the chance to learn new skills and get payed for it the same time. There is also the chance to work weekends for overtime.

I would advise anyone who applies for the apprenticeship scheme makes sure their Cv is up to date and that they be patience during the because it is a very long process but the rewards at the end of it is worth the wait and is a job for life once you get it.