Learning to drive trains takes a lot longer than 6 months from starting to signing all routes and traction.A semi-skilled worker does not have specialized skills or advanced training, according to eSub. However, the work a semi-skilled employee performs requires three to six months to learn
The level 3 apprenticeship that pretty much all TOCs require now could be considered additional specialised education.According to Labor for Hire, you will need to have specialized education and training in order to do a skilled job. This means that you may need a college or university degree or diploma in your field, in addition to certification. Skilled labor requires using your own judgment, critical thinking, time management and people management.
That's a very great point. Never thought of that. I thought skilled means you need prior qualifications to enter the profession.The level 3 apprenticeship that pretty much all TOCs require now could be considered additional specialised education.
What about waiters and shop workers in terms of food safety and allergens ?I find it difficult to believe that any job where the postholder has other people's lives literally in their hands can be anything but skilled. Pilots, boat captain, bus drivers, train drivers - all are surely skilled roles?
A level 3 apprenticeship is at an equivalent level to two A-level passes.The level 3 apprenticeship that pretty much all TOCs require now could be considered additional specialised education.
Would like to get your thoughts on this.
I'm not sure I agree that train driving is an absolute doddle, even in good conditions. Where I work I'm taught to have plenty of redundancy in how I brake and every unit I drive behaves differently, whether it is braking strength, brake type, whether wheels have been turned or brake blocks are new/old, gradients, impact of passenger loadings, different traction formations (including tread brake/disc brakes in formation). Furthermore, normal conditions for my job mean pretty much running under restrictive signals all the time and stopping up to 100 times a day which is certainly not a cake walk. Nevertheless, different drivers have varied approaches to driving e.g. liberal braking techniques such as unnecessary heavy braking late into stations (my opinion).I guess given the training involved in becoming a train driver, that alone makes it more on the skilled side of the spectrum. Not everybody can be a train driver, but a lot of people could probably drive a train. What I mean is, the physical driving of the train in normal conditions is frankly a doddle (obviously adverse weather and degraded working etc would require a certain aptitude though), but everything else we need to know is where the “skilled” part comes in to it (route knowledge, degraded working, rules knowledge, traction knowledge and what to do if it really goes wrong to name a few).
A level 3 apprenticeship is at an equivalent level to two A-level passes.
I fully agree. I meant the actual physical aspect of driving a train. The items you mentioned are I’d say attribute it to more of a skilled role. The fundamentals of powering up, slowing down, stopping and operating/reacting to in-cab alerts are what I meant was easier. Knowing what traction brakes differently, powers you differently and generally getting a feel for it, is what makes a professional driver, and to an extent, that can’t be taught.I'm not sure I agree that train driving is an absolute doddle, even in good conditions. Where I work I'm taught to have plenty of redundancy in how I brake and every unit I drive behaves differently, whether it is braking strength, brake type, whether wheels have been turned or brake blocks are new/old, gradients, impact of passenger loadings, different traction formations (including tread brake/disc brakes in formation). Furthermore, normal conditions for my job mean pretty much running under restrictive signals all the time and stopping up to 100 times a day which is certainly not a cake walk. Nevertheless, different drivers have varied approaches to driving e.g. liberal braking techniques such as unnecessary heavy braking late into stations (my opinion).
My friend, you’ve put what I was trying to say far more eloquently.I'm not sure I agree that train driving is an absolute doddle, even in good conditions. Where I work I'm taught to have plenty of redundancy in how I brake and every unit I drive behaves differently, whether it is braking strength, brake type, whether wheels have been turned or brake blocks are new/old, gradients, impact of passenger loadings, different traction formations (including tread brake/disc brakes in formation). Furthermore, normal conditions for my job mean pretty much running under restrictive signals all the time and stopping up to 100 times a day which is certainly not a cake walk. Nevertheless, different drivers have varied approaches to driving e.g. liberal braking techniques such as unnecessary heavy braking late into stations (my opinion).
A professional driver could be considered skilled with constantly changing road circumstances, awkward drops, thinking on your feet.
Train drivers is skilled but in a more controlled enviroment, you follow the rails, knowing your route and most importantly stopping when you need to.
I used to drive vintage tramcars in a museum setting, that is fairly skilled watching the tracks, checking your facing points, stopping distance, checking your overhead wires for problem, multitasking and constantly thinking on your feet, all this while carrying up to 60 passengers.
I believe the definition of skilled worker more relates to degree of autonomy does the one have in their role.
A software developer will have a bigger autonomy on how a software application can be designed and programmed as opposed to a train driver who have limited autonomy in their decisions.
Looking through "Skilled Worker" visa eligible occupations list seems mostly confirm this view (with some exceptions).
typically one can be trained to drive a bus in a few weeks and a tram in maybe 2 months. Given the definition of semi skilled is a job of 3-6 months with a train driver taking over a year of intense training, is a professional (bus) or even a tram driver skilled under this definition?
Vintage tramcar drivers certainly have autonomy and is essentially the "Captain" of his ship, passengers and conductors would look to him for guidance if something went wrong especially where electricity is concerned.typically one can be trained to drive a bus in a few weeks and a tram in maybe 2 months. Given the definition of semi skilled is a job of 3-6 months with a train driver taking over a year of intense training, is a professional (bus) or even a tram driver skilled under this definition?
it is just button pulling and lever pressing.
it is just button pulling and lever pressing.
Sometimes switch switching tooit is just button pulling and lever pressing.
I believe the definition of skilled worker more relates to degree of autonomy does the one have in their role.
A software developer will have a bigger autonomy on how a software application can be designed and programmed as opposed to a train driver who have limited autonomy in their decisions.
Looking through "Skilled Worker" visa eligible occupations list seems mostly confirm this view (with some exceptions).