Apprenticeships on the railway

[ryan125hst]

I am currently in my second year at sixth form studying Physics, Chemistry and IT. I achieved good grades at GCSE level (mostly A's and A*'s), but have found A Levels quite difficult and my best grade so far is a C.

I have been interested in trains all of my life, probably due to the fact that I live near the East Coast Main Line, and also because my Nan's brothers and father (my Great Grandad) used to work on the railway.

When I started my AS levels, I intended to study Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) at University, but with my grades being lower than I hoped for, I am unsure whether this is now possible or whether I should look for an alternative.

I know that apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity and, having heard about apprenticeships on the railway, I wondered whether there are any opportunities available for me.

I live in Retford, Nottinghamshire, so I would ideally need to be within an hour or so of there. I am aware that Neville Hill and Etches Park depots are the closest to me and also know that Wabtec operate a refurbishment facility at Doncaster.

I am technically minded and I believe that this, coupled with my interest in trains, means that an apprenticeship of this type would suit me. How often do the above offer apprenticeships? Do you think that it would be a good opportunity for me if I were to be offered a place?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Ryan

 

[kleb15]

I am currently in my second year at sixth form studying Physics, Chemistry and IT. I achieved good grades at GCSE level (mostly A's and A*'s), but have found A Levels quite difficult and my best grade so far is a C.

I have been interested in trains all of my life, probably due to the fact that I live near the East Coast Main Line, and also because my Nan's brothers and father (my Great Grandad) used to work on the railway.

When I started my AS levels, I intended to study Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) at University, but with my grades being lower than I hoped for, I am unsure whether this is now possible or whether I should look for an alternative.

I know that apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity and, having heard about apprenticeships on the railway, I wondered whether there are any opportunities available for me.

I live in Retford, Nottinghamshire, so I would ideally need to be within an hour or so of there. I am aware that Neville Hill and Etches Park depots are the closest to me and also know that Wabtec operate a refurbishment facility at Doncaster.

I am technically minded and I believe that this, coupled with my interest in trains, means that an apprenticeship of this type would suit me. How often do the above offer apprenticeships? Do you think that it would be a good opportunity for me if I were to be offered a place?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Ryan

Hi mate, ye there are plenty of apprenticeships knocking about on the railway. Network Rail offer them every year, I applied this year to do signalling, but they take on for track, and overhead lines too, i'm not sure if the deadline has passed yet. But if you check out this link you can register, you only need GCSE's for a lot of these anyway mate, so you already have the necessary qualifications, this is the Netwrok Rail link
https://networkrailapprenticescandidate.gradweb.uk.com/applications2013/login.aspx?cookieCheck=true

If you don't mind relocating Transport For London offer fanstastic engineering apprenticeships on the Underground, i'll be applying for them once the date opens, in a few weeks, but as i'm guessing you're between 16-18 if you're doing your A-Levels there's currently one available that you could apply to, i'm too old for this unfortunately. Heres the link for this though mate, think you may have just missed the deadline for this, but for your age it's a very good one, the wage is decent too, 3 times your 1st year wage at Network Rail

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/jobs/17156.aspx

Hope this helps you out a bit mate

 

[Yew]

Have you thought about doing a third year of 6th form? Re-sit some of your lower graded exams, to get higher marks, and get a part time job to give you some money for university. My Grades where not great at 6th form (coming out with B C D E) however I still managed to get a place at university

 

[Beveridges]

Probably best to get on an Apprenticeship if you can and give University a miss, I did a course and it was all a waste of time, ended up never using the Degree.

 

[Cab2Cab]

I am currently in my second year at sixth form studying Physics, Chemistry and IT. I achieved good grades at GCSE level (mostly A's and A*'s), but have found A Levels quite difficult and my best grade so far is a C.

I have been interested in trains all of my life, probably due to the fact that I live near the East Coast Main Line, and also because my Nan's brothers and father (my Great Grandad) used to work on the railway.

When I started my AS levels, I intended to study Engineering (Electrical or Mechanical) at University, but with my grades being lower than I hoped for, I am unsure whether this is now possible or whether I should look for an alternative.

I know that apprenticeships are a fantastic opportunity and, having heard about apprenticeships on the railway, I wondered whether there are any opportunities available for me.

I live in Retford, Nottinghamshire, so I would ideally need to be within an hour or so of there. I am aware that Neville Hill and Etches Park depots are the closest to me and also know that Wabtec operate a refurbishment facility at Doncaster.

I am technically minded and I believe that this, coupled with my interest in trains, means that an apprenticeship of this type would suit me. How often do the above offer apprenticeships? Do you think that it would be a good opportunity for me if I were to be offered a place?

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

Ryan

Hi Ryan,

Depends what side your interested in, Engineering infrastructure or Engineering operations.

There are jobs in London, trainee technician @ balfour beatty rail, apprentice track engineer at Carillion (London) and also trainee engineer for Colas rail based south yorkshire. Also Volkerail have depot at Doncaster.

Best thing to do is have a generic email about apprenticeship availablilty within the companies you are contacting and email all the Railway companies and service providers to the railway, eg Wabtec, Vital, ARUP , ATKINS. etc

See how many replies you get, some will keep your details on file so nothing to lose.

CHEERS and good luck!!!!

 

[ryan125hst]

Thank you for your replies so far. I'm only 18 so I don't have the money to relocate, so unfortunately London is out of the question.

My main interest is rolling stock, so I would prefer that area which is why I mentioned the above depots. Does anyone know of any apprenticeships that are available in my area at the above depots and, if not, whether it is likely that they will become available in the near future?

If I am unable to get an apprenticeship (I appreciate that apprenticeships are few and far between), what are my options?

 

[E&W Lucas]

I asked about apprenticeships, on behalf of a friend's son, who is in a similar situation. Sadly, few and far between, and they can be very picky when they do recruit. Essentially, everyone has had the same idea as you, but that includes those with strong A Levels, Btecs, etc. In other words, whatever you do, you will need decent grades.

Surely the starting point, should be to speak to your teachers, and find out why you are not getting the grades you should be, and to do something about it?
Sticking at it, even if it means another year of Sixth Form, will impress an employer far more.

Best of luck.

 

[BravoGolfMike]

Northern offer engineering apprenticeships at Neville Hill, I would suggest emailing their HR for info. I have also seen DBS offer them for Doncaster and Scunthorpe so email them too. Actually what I would suggest is the best idea for yourself would be to email every TOC/FOC in the area where you would like to work and ask them to keep you in mind for future intakes or at least give you an idea if they operate an apprenticeship scheme or not. An email from a keen 18 year old should count for a lot in HR land. But definitely check out Northern and DBS at the very least and good luck.

 

[jon0844]

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/about-us/careers/customer-services-apprenticeship-scheme/

Do you have the desire, drive and attitude to deliver first class customer service?

We are pleased to announce our Customer Service Apprenticeship Scheme for 2013 is now open to applicants who are aged 16-23 years old.

There is no minimum level of qualification to enable you to apply - we are looking for applicants with customer focus and can-do attitude with an aspiration to succeed in a fast pace industry.

At successful completion you will be offered a permanent position with the company.

 

[ryan125hst]

Thank you for your responses everyone!

After having a meeting with the director of my sixth form, I have decided to stay on another year. This was something that I did not originally plan to do, but after getting U's in Physics and Chemistry in the January exams, I have little choice if I want to get my A Levels.

I have now decided to drop Chemistry (for now) and concentrate on my IT (all coursework based this year) and Physics (which I feel more confident with than Chemistry), allowing me to spend lots of time revising for both the June exam and the resit of the January exam.

I will then return next year for Chemistry, so I will be able to spend more time on it, which I think I need. I will also be doing an extended project.

Hopefully, by doing it this way, I can get decent grades in both subjects as it gives me more time to revise for each of them. If I had carried on as I was, I would have had four exams in June (two of which are two hours long), and I would have been lucky to get grades in all of them.

I do now plan on going to University, if I can get the grades, but I will still keep an eye out for apprenticeships.

Please keep this thread updated with any new opportunities if they arise. Not only might they be useful for me, but other members and non-members who are looking for apprenticeships as well.

Thanks again for your help.

Ryan

 

[E&W Lucas]

If I had carried on as I was, I would have had four exams in June (two of which are two hours long), and I would have been lucky to get grades in all of them.

Oh how times change!
Who else remembers when "A" Levels meant two three hour papers per subject, both in the June at the end of the second year?
If you were taking four subjects, it was indeed a busy month!
Excellent preparation for the pressure of the real world workplace though!

 

[ryan125hst]

Oh how times change!
Who else remembers when "A" Levels meant two three hour papers per subject, both in the June at the end of the second year?
If you were taking four subjects, it was indeed a busy month!
Excellent preparation for the pressure of the real world workplace though!

They are wanting to go back to this though. There are no January exams next year, although I believe year 12's will still have exams in June (at the end of their first year).

 

[RJ]

Thank you for your responses everyone!

After having a meeting with the director of my sixth form, I have decided to stay on another year. This was something that I did not originally plan to do, but after getting U's in Physics and Chemistry in the January exams, I have little choice if I want to get my A Levels.

I have now decided to drop Chemistry (for now) and concentrate on my IT (all coursework based this year) and Physics (which I feel more confident with than Chemistry), allowing me to spend lots of time revising for both the June exam and the resit of the January exam.

I will then return next year for Chemistry, so I will be able to spend more time on it, which I think I need. I will also be doing an extended project.

Hopefully, by doing it this way, I can get decent grades in both subjects as it gives me more time to revise for each of them. If I had carried on as I was, I would have had four exams in June (two of which are two hours long), and I would have been lucky to get grades in all of them.

I do now plan on going to University, if I can get the grades, but I will still keep an eye out for apprenticeships.

Please keep this thread updated with any new opportunities if they arise. Not only might they be useful for me, but other members and non-members who are looking for apprenticeships as well.

Thanks again for your help.

Ryan

Good on you. I can sympathise - I did an extra two years at college after 6th form, so that I could attain an extra A-Level to get onto the university course I wanted to do. First year of this, I worked part time and the second year, I got a full time job on the railways. Balancing work and studies was difficult but looking back, I don't regret the experience for a second.

As for grades - I appreciate how hard it is to get one's head down and get on with it. It's all about time management and getting to know yourself and the most effective way you learn. I favour reading books/doing exercises in my own time and at my own pace, only calling on support from a teacher if I really need it. Some people learn better in class. Work out what's best for you and run with it.

I'd certainly recommend university - I'm having the time of my life! Social side of it is great, I'm on a course with people who are into the same things as me and opportunities become available that wouldn't necessarily be as readily available elsewhere. Many companies (including certain TOCs) headhunt people and networking events are put on so you can become acquainted with influential people. You have the rest of your life to live in the real world! If you really want to do it and you have the opportunity to go to a university you have your heart set on, put in the groundwork and go for it!

 

[ryan125hst]

Thanks for your response RJ. Hopefully the extra time there will pay off.

As for grades - I appreciate how hard it is to get one's head down and get on with it. It's all about time management and getting to know yourself and the most effective way you learn.

And spending less time on RailUK Forums!