Media centre

Wednesday 3 Feb 2010

LONDONERS INVITED TO GET CAREER ON TRACK

Region & Route:

| Southern

Aspiring engineers in the capital are being urged not to miss out on a coveted place on Network Rail’s award-winning apprenticeship scheme.

The scheme recruits over 200 young people each year and applications for places starting this September are flooding in – but there are still vacancies in the London area.

This week is National Apprenticeship Week (1-5 Feb) and Network Rail is encouraging both men and women to get on track for an exciting and challenging career on the railway.

Bill Alexander, national apprentice manager for Network Rail, says: “This is an exciting time to start at Network Rail with so many opportunities for both men and women to be part of our railway revolution. Our apprentices will become the backbone of our company. We will give them the skills to build a challenging career in an industry that looks after three million people a day and is vital to the economy.”

In their first year, apprentices are based at Europe’s largest engineering training facility at HMS Sultan in Gosport, Hampshire, where they share facilities with the Royal Navy. They can take advantage of state-of-the-art recreation and sports facilities including a gym, swimming pool, squash courts, playing fields, outdoor tennis courts, water sports and other organised activities. Apprentices spend their second and third years at their designated local depot, learning on the job with experienced teams.

 

Case studies:

 

Mohammed Rahman, 22, from Camden joined Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme in 2008. Now in his second year, Mohammed is based at Paddington depot where he is specialising in telecommunications.

“Since joining I have had the opportunity to meet many people from different walks of life, make new friends and the scheme has provided me with a sense of purpose in life,” said Mohammed. “Everyone shares a common aim and ambition, which is to be part of something important and real. The scheme will provide me with a bright future and a skill for life.”

Daryl Levison, 20, from Ilford joined Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme in 2007. Now in her final year, Daryl is based at Romford depot where she is specialising in signalling. Daryl explains why she signed up for the Network Rail apprentice scheme:

“I chose to join the Network Rail scheme because although I wasn’t going to be going to university, this gave me the chance to experience living life away from home and be in a student environment.

“When I went out on the track for the first time, I realised that this is a place where I can fit in and work in a team. At first working with lots of guys was a little difficult but within weeks it was like there was no difference at all. I really enjoy learning something new most days and that I am going to have job security even after I finish the apprenticeship.

“The skills that I am learning on this scheme are also transferable. I know that if I wanted to, these skills would help me in lots of different jobs within Network Rail, and that’s really valuable.”

Jason Smith, 24, from Cricklewood joined Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme in 2007. Now in his final year, Jason is based at West Hampstead depot where he is specialising in signalling. Jason reveals what’s the best thing about the apprenticeship scheme:

“The apprenticeship was a great opportunity for me to be a skilled worker in a solid company. Things really kick into gear in the second and third years when you are based at your depot and getting firsthand experience of the railway. This combined with two-week courses back at HMS Sultan and your work-based learning objectives and NVQ reports give you good experience and a great insight into the work you will be doing once you qualify.

“I am now in my third year and it’s really hectic and non-stop learning. The good thing about working in this industry is that every day is different and you learn something new all the time.”

Daniel Mahoney, 21, from Croydon completed Network Rail’s advanced apprenticeship scheme in 2008. He is now a senior technical officer based at our Croydon offices.

“The apprenticeship was life building in a way,” says Daniel. “The 10 months away from home taught me to be independent and I met some really interesting people from all over the country that I still keep in contact with. I was also really involved in the social side of things and as sports rep I organised all the sporting events and was part of the Network Rail football team. We used to play the Navy boys and won every game against them.

 

 “After three years I have a BTEC level 3 in civil engineering that I can take anywhere in the world if I want to. I am going to apply to do my BTEC level 5 at university so that I can progress though the company as an engineer. My managers have told me they will support my progression within the company and help wherever possible.”

Anyone interested is encouraged to visit the website http://careers.networkrail.co.uk/apprentices where they can find out more about the scheme, watch a video of two of Network Rail’s first year apprentices and see profiles of current apprentices who talk about what they get out of the scheme.