Rating

8.8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • Since September, I have been at college completing my college course. Day starts at 9:15 and finishes at 4:30. There are 4 lessons throughout the day which consist of a nice mix of practical and theory based subjects to set me up for entering the workplace next year.

    9/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • Yes. A a variety of practical skills to produce components using welding, hand fitting, turning and milling. We have also been taught report writing, health and safety, and problem solving techniques using mechanical and electrical principles, maths, pneumatic systems. Finally we have covered soft skills including engineering solutions and innovation, time management, working efficiently in an engineering environment, and working as a team.

    9/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • There are good and bad aspects to my program. I enjoy the problem solving and hands on aspects, but am less keen on the written components. Overall, though, I would thoroughly recommend my program as a means of getting in to the rail engineering industry without the benefit of prior experience or qualifications. All that is needed is GCSE Maths and English, as everything else is taught during the program.

    10/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • Not as good as it could be. Our course is often not managed properly, however I believe that this is the fault of our college as this is where we are asked full time at the moment. Despite this, our course is progressing well and we are on course to finish.

    7/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • A lot of support. My manager is based quite a distance from us, but he is only ever an email away and is always happy to help wherever he can, including sending us company documents to assist us with our college course. I am very please switch my managers support.

    10/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • I think our training provider is very supportive. Staff members are only ever an email or phone call away and they are always happy to help when we contact them. We have regular reviews with them to discuss the course and our progress, however I would prefer for us to have these more often.

    8/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • I do not know yet as we have not entered the workplace. We are in college for the 1st year. However I feel that our training provider would be very useful when we do move into the workplace as they will be checking on our progress, throughout our apprenticeship as they do now.

    10/10

  • 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.)
  • Yes. There are several things that we can do besides work. In our spare time we can organise football games with colleagues and college teachers. I think that there is other community work that can be done, however I have not investigated this very much so I am not sure.

    7/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Govia Thameslink Railway to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • I think that despite what is heard in the media, GTR is a fantastic company to work for as managers are always doing their utmost for their colleagues and everybody looks out for each other. Also, managers are always wanting colleges to become the best they can by offering development courses and chances to improve their career.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Govia Thameslink Railway?
  • Ensure that you are familiar with the basics of engineering for when you apply. It would also be a good idea to learn as much as you can about the company itself, its operations (stations, services, passenger statistics etc) as they cannot expect you to know a lot about engineering, but research on the company will get you far.


Details

Level 3 Apprenticeship

Engineering

Croydon, Greater London

March 2020


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