GWR Apprenticeship

[CharlesR]

Good Evening.

I am currently 17 and doing my A Levels. I passed my GCSEs with some good grades and feel that I would be able to get into GWR without much issue.

Is it a good idea to do the Apprenticeship? What benefits do you get from it? Would my age and inexperience be an issue after doing it to be considered for a role such as Train Manager? What opportunities would I have after many years?

Ever since I was 10 I have taken a deep and thorough liking to the railway and I would love to join the railway.

Thanks,
Charles

 

[Stigy]

Good Evening.

I am currently 17 and doing my A Levels. I passed my GCSEs with some good grades and feel that I would be able to get into GWR without much issue.

Is it a good idea to do the Apprenticeship? What benefits do you get from it? Would my age and inexperience be an issue after doing it to be considered for a role such as Train Manager? What opportunities would I have after many years?

Ever since I was 10 I have taken a deep and thorough liking to the railway and I would love to join the railway.

Thanks,
Charles

Hi Charles,

I'd say your age will far from be an issue, likewise your experience (that's the whole idea of an apprenticeship - to gain experience and learn about certain aspects of the industry). It's definitely a great industry to get in to, especially as FirstGroup have a few types of apprenticeships depending on the business area you're interested in. I'm not sure on the entry criteria, but it's usually just grades A to C at GCSEs. Good luck!

 

[CharlesR]

Hello again, thanks for the reply.

In terms of in the business, I am interested in the Operational side however would one day like to move into management roles like Competence Manager etc, do you this no other qualifications would be preferred to move up the industry or would experience and knowledge be a key aspect? Thanks

 

[tiptoptaff]

I'd recommend the GWR Aspire Management apprenticeship, if the MS grade is the way you want to go. Competence management will require you to work in the grade you'd end up assessing though. Our Control competence manager did the majority of her career so far as a Train Service Controller and Duty Control Manager.

To become a Driver Standards Manager, these days you will need to be a driver first. GWR has changed that fairly recently. It used to be desirable now it's essential after they combined the grades

 

[Stigy]

I'd recommend the GWR Aspire Management apprenticeship, if the MS grade is the way you want to go. Competence management will require you to work in the grade you'd end up assessing though. Our Control competence manager did the majority of her career so far as a Train Service Controller and Duty Control Manager.

To become a Driver Standards Manager, these days you will need to be a driver first. GWR has changed that fairly recently. It used to be desirable now it's essential after they combined the grades

SWT used to have two grades on driver manager (competent and non-competent - although there may be a technical name for it), but recently changed it too, so one has to have 3-years driving under their belt too.

 

[tiptoptaff]

SWT used to have two grades on driver manager (competent and non-competent - although there may be a technical name for it), but recently changed it too, so one has to have 3-years driving under their belt too.

You're not one of them now Stigy, you're on the dark [green] side :P

 

[Val3ntine]

SWT used to have two grades on driver manager (competent and non-competent - although there may be a technical name for it), but recently changed it too, so one has to have 3-years driving under their belt too.

Ironically it’s technical and non-technical lol

 

[Stigy]

Ironically it’s technical and non-technical lol

Haha, of course, makes sense....I suppose the true opposite to competent is incompetent really

 

[Stigy]

You're not one of them now Stigy, you're on the dark [green] side :P

Yes, jumped ship as they say....gone to the rich relative?

 

[tiptoptaff]

Yes, jumped ship as they say....gone to the rich relative?

Not quite

 

[CharlesR]

Deleted

 

[CharlesR]

Hello, thanks for the reply’s. My previous message didn’t make sense as I had just got back in when I wrote it.

I would really like to do the Operational side of things however one day move into other sectors to not just have a boring career with no qualifications for other jobs. Do you still have good opportunities in the Operations sector after the Management apprenticeship or vice versa?

Thanks