Network rail Nrt telecoms apprentice Review

I am a Network Rail NRT (telecoms) apprentice, the first 9/10 months of the apprenticeship you live on HMS Collingwood and work on HMS Sultan, it is very good for socialising due to the shared accommodation and all of the activities you can get involved in both on site, within the company and locally, however in terms of learning to me I found it ok however in terms of the engineering aspects I already had 3/4 of the qualifications from my prior electrical engineering btec intermediate level 2 course I did at college and even though I already had some of the qualifications I was made to do them again. But apart from that, it was all laid out and taught in a logical order and that the instructors where very good. After you leave HMS Collingwood you return to your depots or in my case to a national based team an. You essentially are learning on the job and I found this absolutely brilliant, interesting and I learnt absolutely loads my manager also sends me on many extra courses outside of the apprenticeship set ones meaning I get to improve my knowledge and usefulness for network rail increasing my chances of securing a job at the end of the apprenticeship. So overall I'd say the apprenticeship is brilliant however the pay is very hard to live on that's my only real concern

Yes skills on telecommunications and on the various specific systems used and the theory behind them

I enjoy it thoroughly each week is something different, something new

I feel quite valued and we'll looked after by network rail however I know from personal experience the pay is terrible and that it could do with be around 16,000 rather than the 12 and 14k in years two and three, year ones pay doesn't really matter due to no living expenses

Very well

Any questions I have will get answered if I get stuck they will help if I don't understand something they will explain it until I do so it is very good

I receive lots of support especially from my manager and the NRT tech support team as well from the apprenticeship staff as well

Some of the benefits in terms of working for network rail are very good like if your more than 5 miles from your depot you can claim up 10 pounds for lunch with a receipt and if you get put in a hotel the give you a 30 pound allowance for evening meal and they buy your breakfast. However in terms I salary no offence to network Rail but it is crap, put it this way I live at home and pay board and after paying board, my phone bill, my fuel for my car that's like half my pay packet gone with out even doing anything

In terms of jobs in telecoms, yes there are many other opportunities

Yes

Because it's a very good worth while course with an opportunity of a high payed job at the end of the apprenticeship and a job for life

Give it 110% 24/7