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Thursday 24 Sep 2015

Apprentices get head-start on hitting life 'firsts' finds new survey

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Apprentices regularly achieve career and personal milestones – such as managing a team or buying a house – earlier than their peers, according to new research from Network Rail. The survey results show that apprenticeships such as Network Rail’s award-winning Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme have a value far beyond the workplace skills that apprentices acquire, with many former apprentices saying they’ve had a considerable head-start on life compared to their friends.

According to the 355 graduates of the Network Rail apprenticeship scheme  who were questioned, more than half are the first among their friends to buy a house (52%) and two thirds are the first to make a ‘big’ purchase on something they have always wanted.   Almost half (47%) also booked and paid for a summer holiday or went travelling before their peers and a further 40% were the first to buy a car among their friendship group.

Their workplace acceleration is matching their life advancement, with  almost three quarters (71%) saying they were the first among their friendship group to be promoted. All 355 of those surveyed now have full time roles within Network Rail, and 43% say they are on track for a senior management position within the next five years.  They also feel a strong sense of fulfilment with 69% saying they are in a role where it feels they are making a real difference, and 62% feel they have made decisions that directly impact the business.

Highlighting the wide-ranging benefits of an apprenticeship in the workplace, the survey also found that compared to their friendship group:

• 48% managed junior colleagues earlier
• 50% managed a major project earlier
• 47% achieved professional accreditation earlier
• 62% per cent felt they made a direct impact on the company at an earlier stage

“My career has progressed so much faster than I ever thought it could.  I’ve been promoted four times in nine years, managing a successful large team along the way. At the moment I’m helping to manage a multi-million pound project which uses cutting edge technology to drain water from the tracks. It’s great to work on something where I know I’m playing a direct role in keeping people moving in all types of weather,” said Adam Fountain, who graduated from Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme in 2009 and is now a scheme project manager.

“The apprenticeship, and all the opportunities since, have allowed me to move out of my parents’ house and begin saving money for the future.  I’m much more confident not only in my career, but in myself. My family and friends say that I’ve grown up a lot since working for Network Rail as a result of the level of responsibility I’ve earned.”

The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship scheme, which was set up in 2005, has today provided in excess of 2,000 apprentices with the opportunity to develop impressive skills and pursue a diverse range of career paths within the business. From aerial survey specialists who spend their days in a helicopter inspecting the 20,000 miles of tracks and 40,000 bridges and viaducts, to engineers and technicians responsible for the safe running of the track 83% of those who started on the scheme a decade ago are still working for the organisation today.  Overall the scheme enjoys a 95%  completion rate, more than 20% ahead of the  sector  average of 74 per cent.

Despite many apprentices being in the minority within their peer group in opting for an apprenticeship, with 43% reporting that none of their friends chose apprenticeships to further their education and career, more than three quarters (76%) said they believe it’s the right career choice for them and two thirds feel they enjoy their job more than their friends do.

21-year-old Emma Gray, who joined Network Rail as an apprentice in 2011 and is already a senior IT service analyst, commented: “While most of my friends are still studying, I’m already managing a small team, delivering presentations to the business and I’ve been able to afford a mortgage on a house.”

Mark Carne, chief executive  of Network Rail, said: “Apprentices form a key part of our business and we have worked hard over the last 10 years to maximise their potential.

“Today we have more than 2,000 apprentices, current and graduated, actively working to shape the future of Britain’s railway as we deliver the biggest investment since the Victorian era through our £38bn Railway Upgrade Plan.  Each and every day our apprentices are given an opportunity to make a real difference to Britain’s economy, helping move more passengers and freight across the nation. I would urge every young person deciding on their future to consider kicking-off their career with an apprenticeship.”

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

For further information, please contact:

Natalie Worpole / Helen Braddock, Consolidated PR

NetworkRail@ConsolidatedPR.com

020 3697 4320

About the Research

The survey was conducted by Network Rail and polled 355 employees who have completed the company’s ‘Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme’ between 11.07.15 – 26.07.15.

 

About Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme

Network Rail’s Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme is a three-year programme that equips you with the skills and experience to become a maintenance engineering technician.

The scheme is open to applicants over 17 years of age and has no upper age limit. Apprentices come from all over the nation and range from those who have just left school or college to those changing careers. All share an interest in engineering.

There are five engineering programmes: track, signals, electrification and plant, signal design and telecoms. Each one gives you the chance to work in a critical area of the business, where your development will continue beyond the three years of the scheme.

Paid learning:

In the first year, apprentices will be paid £8,400 + £1,150 when they successfully finish the year; the salary will rise to £11,750 in the second; and £14,000 in the third.

In the first year, Network Rail will also feed, pay for accommodation and provide the clothing and personal protective equipment that they need. There are plenty of holidays: 28 days plus bank holidays. Network Rail will pay for apprentices to travel home for long weekends and Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.

Qualifications:

After three years, apprentices will have the qualifications (NVQ, BTec and ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management)) and skills to develop a long-term career with Network Rail. Many apprentices complete their first year and soon start to think about their career options – and many set their sights on becoming technical officers, team leaders or managers. There are even further opportunities to study a foundation degree for those who demonstrate the commitment and ability.

For more information go to https://www.facebook.com/networkrailadvancedapprenticeship