help with apprenticeships

[squizz11]

hi

I have wanted to work on the railways since I was a child, and did well at GCSE level with 6/7 grades in math and English, I also did a level 3 city and guilds(D) in engineering which I was told would help me secure an apprenticeship.
i have now been told I'm not eligible, as I am over qualified for level 3 apprenticeships

I could head down the level 6 route which is uni based which I'm not keen and there are no level 4 apprenticeships in my area apart from TFL vehicle maintenance.

My main interest was track or signalling and I would be happy with either.

If I did the TFL course, is there a way in to track and signal once your in the system and have qualified, or is there any other way in

Everything I did was geared towards the level 3 and bad advice at 16 has lead me here.

any ideas?

 

[Spurs1961]

Hi squizz11, TFL are a great company to join and be able to move around different job roles but for track or signals the jobs are very different.
Signals would require you to have a strong electrical background and track would generally require you to have a strong mechanical background.
It could depend on what you're level 3 was bias toward.
I would say going to vehicle apprenticeship to track or signals isn't impossible but it wouldn't be the usual route.
Hope this helps.

 

[squizz11]

thank you, I got distinction in my CG engineering and I would probably want to work towards rolling stock rather than trams and buses, could this lead to a job in bigger diesel engine trains as TFL are mainly electric. I am also planning on doing accredited welding courses separately in my own time.

Are there any mainline train companies that do train fitter apprenticeships at level 4, as I would be open to that, would have to be in the south near london, I'm west of london
could this help?

 

[Brickz]

Have you looked on southeastern careers website they have a Engineering Apprentice 2025 currently live

 

[Spurs1961]

Hi squizz11

thank you, I got distinction in my CG engineering and I would probably want to work towards rolling stock rather than trams and buses, could this lead to a job in bigger diesel engine trains as TFL are mainly electric. I am also planning on doing accredited welding courses separately in my own time.

Are there any mainline train companies that do train fitter apprenticeships at level 4, as I would be open to that, would have to be in the south near london, I'm west of london
could this help?

Hi squizz11, I'm a rolling stock technician and to be honest you should apply to some companies for maintenance technician and take a chance as all companies seem to be asking for an NVQ Level 3.
I'm guessing you don't have any real world engineering experience (i don't mean for that to sound rude) but doing practical work in college and then in the railway are very different.
Apply for apprenticeships but as I said try maintenance technician jobs, for example Hitachi are hiring and in the advert it states railway experience not necessary but I think the issue is you haven't worked anywhere else and picked up the practical experience side of things.
As for diesel engines, i don't know anywhere that does maintenance around London.
Companies i know are, alstom (various in London) Hitachi, (various in London)
Southwestern Railway, Wimbledon
Southeastern railway, (various in London) TFL, London
Heathrow has a rail division within their engineering department but they aren't really rail, pods and unit that runs between terminal 5 and satellite terminals.
Again I hope this helps you.
Feel free to message me if you need.

 

[squizz11]

Thanks for the reply, I've been working as a labourer in an engineering firm for over a year since college and I helped build 4x 60ft silos last year in Ireland and have been picking up bits and pieces with this job but no qualifications to speak of, there's some companies there I haven't written to yet so will add them in. Most entry level 3 apprenticeships exclude me because of the level 3 city and guilds.

 

[Spurs1961]

Thanks for the reply, I've been working as a labourer in an engineering firm for over a year since college and I helped build 4x 60ft silos last year in Ireland and have been picking up bits and pieces with this job but no qualifications to speak of, there's some companies there I haven't written to yet so will add them in. Most entry level 3 apprenticeships exclude me because of the level 3 city and guilds.

I just had a thought, there are companies who provide contractors for the railway.
Shorterm group and Clemtech are 2 companies, that lads I know used to get in to Siemens and Alstom.
You might be able to try them and get a foot in the door.
Just a thought.

 

[squizz11]

Have you looked on southeastern careers website they have a Engineering Apprentice 2025 currently live

thanks, you have to live within 40 minutes of the depot, I currently live north west of London so wouldn't qualify

 

[Brickz]

TFL also have a fee Engineering Apprenticeships on the careers page if ypu put Engineering in the keyword box it shows them the locations may be local enough for you