Two Network Rail apprentices are sharing their experience to encourage others to consider a career in railway engineering as part of National Apprenticeship Week (7-13 February).
Network Rail has one of the most respected apprenticeship schemes. Two past apprentices who work for Network Rail’s Anglia route, covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, East London, Cambridge and parts of Hertfordshire, explain why they chose an apprenticeship, where it’s taken them and advice they have for new recruits.
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across the country and a time to recognise and celebrate apprenticeship success stories. This year’s theme for the week is ‘Build the future’ promoting the value of apprenticeships, both to an individual’s career development and employers in futureproofing their workforce.
Ross Quantrill, route engineer (track) joined Network Rail in 2006 on the second cohort of the advanced apprenticeship scheme as a track apprentice.
Ross, said: “I was coming to the end of college and initially I wanted to go to work, but saw the Network Rail apprenticeship on the back of a newspaper and thought that it looked like a good mix of learning and working, so I applied.”
He describes the apprenticeship as a mix of practical and theory modules for the first year and the second and third years were mostly at the delivery unit getting to go out with all disciplines whilst completing work based learning assignments and returning to the scheme throughout the two years to gain Network Rail competencies.
On completion of his apprenticeship, Ross joined the track technical team at Colchester and worked through the grades while also attending Sheffield Hallam University part time to study Railway Engineering. He then went on to be track maintenance engineer and infrastructure maintenance engineer at Ipswich. He has recently started as the Route Engineer (track) for the route.
Asked what a typical day is like for him, he said: “There is no typical day on the railway that’s why it’s such a great place to work.”
His advice for someone thinking about an apprenticeship was: “Go for it, work hard and never be afraid to ask too many questions.”
Luke Boggis, track maintenance engineer (TME) at Norwich, joined Network Rail on the apprenticeship scheme over 10 years ago, taking his first job in Ipswich track technical team and working his way through the ranks to become assistant TME. Last July, he started at Norwich as TME.
He echoed Ross’ advice for prospective apprentices and said: “This is a career you can really push on in with the right attitude. The sky is the limit with opportunities – if you want it to be. It helps open doors to an exciting career in an ever-changing engineering environment.
“As an apprentice you start discovering what you’re good at, the apprenticeship highlights early on the areas for improvement and the scheme encourages you along the way.”
To find out more about the apprenticeship and how to apply go to: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/careers/early-careers/apprenticeships/
Photo credit: Network Rail
