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A career as a signaller

Q

qwertyberty

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7Paul7 said:
During the interview, I asked the question and was told the positions were 12 month FTC with no specific box assigned, the idea being to fill full time positions they expect to become vacant during this time.
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Slightly frustrating given the job advert did not qualify that but said: Opportunities available will be Signalling grades 2-8, across multiple locations within a 60 minute radius of York ROC

With the volumes being taken on I am slightly concerned it may not be so easy to make FTC a Permanent one
 
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headshot119

headshot119

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qwertyberty said:
Slightly frustrating given the job advert did not qualify that but said: Opportunities available will be Signalling grades 2-8, across multiple locations within a 60 minute radius of York ROC

With the volumes being taken on I am slightly concerned it may not be so easy to make FTC a Permanent one
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As long as you make it through signalling school, and have the right attitude, they won't be letting you go at the end of the FTC, the whole thing has been planned based on the number of signallers they need in the area.
 
H

Haydenb

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Not heard anything from the York assessment day on the 7th so not looking good.all the best to the lads who got in.
 
Amanda

Amanda

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Hi @amanda08, if that is for the crossing keeper at Long Eaton, it appears to be in Staffordshire so maybe check with Recruitment about the location? It's not even the side of Staffordshire that's next to Derbyshire. (See my posts on previous pages about it.)
 
D

desrudy

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qwertyberty said:
Slightly frustrating given the job advert did not qualify that but said: Opportunities available will be Signalling grades 2-8, across multiple locations within a 60 minute radius of York ROC

With the volumes being taken on I am slightly concerned it may not be so easy to make FTC a Permanent one
Click to expand...

7AFE0212-9E02-4D0A-828D-5BB53C3808A9.png
 
A

amanda08

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Thanks. I will be in the Derby side of Nottingham and from what I can tell, it would be about a 35/45 minute drive for me (depending on traffic) so just about doable x
 
H

Haydenb

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Thanks lads and lasses, like I say all the best.i'd imagine that while the signaller school will be a challenge you'll make friends for life.
 
S

Speaker

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Hi all. New to the forum.
A few questions if I may.
I currently have a permanent job in retail and applied for a signaller role. Been offered a FTC for 12 months is this normal? and what are the chances of getting a permanent job?
How difficult is signaller school?
Thanks.
 
G

gareth386

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Speaker said:
Hi all. New to the forum.
A few questions if I may.
I currently have a permanent job in retail and applied for a signaller role. Been offered a FTC for 12 months is this normal? and what are the chances of getting a permanent job?
How difficult is signaller school?
Thanks.
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Signal school is very intense, there's a lot of information to retain in a very short amount of time, especially if you're not from a railway background. That being said, it makes it all the sweeter when you do finish school. If you put the work in and not go there expecting it to be a jolly, then you'll be fine.
The 12 month FTC is quite normal. They offer you that as a lot of signallers go into pools, they start school without knowing exactly where they'll be working afterwards, but in preparation for retirements and people moving jobs, you may need to apply for a job once in school. Plus the 12 month FTC is to give you an incentive to pass it, if you fail then they'll cut you loose, no permanent contract so they don't have to keep you on. In years gone by they would need to move failed signallers to other roles as they had a permanent contract.
There's a lot of information within this thread, it'll take a while but have a good read through, your question has been answered many times.
 
L

LOM

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gareth386 said:
Plus the 12 month FTC is to give you an incentive to pass it, if you fail then they'll cut you loose, no permanent contract so they don't have to keep you on. In years gone by they would need to move failed signallers to other roles as they had a permanent contract.
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That is not quite correct. It has always been possible to terminate someone for failing the school even on a permanent contract. Usually a couple of attempts are given but if they still do not pass then they are out the door. Been there done that and got the t-shirt.

It is far more likely that a candidate who is unable to pass the course will be terminated rather than appointed to another role because there are not really many other suitable Operations jobs available to move them to. Crossing keeper or bridge keeper maybe in areas that have them but that is about it.
 
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G

gareth386

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LOM said:
That is not quite correct. It has always been possible to terminate someone for failing the school even on a permanent contract. Usually a couple of attempts are given but if they still do not pass then they are out the door. Been there done that and got the t-shirt.

It is far more likely that a candidate who is unable to pass the course will be terminated rather than appointed to another role because there are not really many other suitable Operations jobs available to move them to. Crossing keeper or bridge keeper maybe in areas that have them but that is about it.
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Looks like I was fed a bit of false info when I 1st started then. That's what I was told by a LOM.
 
L

LOM

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Some areas use fixed term contracts as a way of hedging their bets against retirements and other staff moves to get a head start on recruitment before a vacancy technically exists. Whether you are on a FTC or a permanent contract you are on a very shoogly peg if you repeatedly fail the course. We simply do not have other jobs available to put people to. The days when you could be put to work sweeping the platforms if you failed to pass out are long gone.
 
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T

Tom Quinne

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Rockhopper said:
You don’t go to signalling school either according to my local crossing keeper!
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No school now, all training in box.
We’ve had five in the last year go to signalling school as trainees, definitely a good way of getting into the grade proper.
 
A

amanda08

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Tom Quinne said:
No school now, all training in box.
We’ve had five in the last year go to signalling school as trainees, definitely a good way of getting into the grade proper.
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what would be considered the minimum amount of time in a crossing keeper job before you could start applying for grades 2 plus? Thanks
 
Sunset route

Sunset route

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amanda08 said:
what would be considered the minimum amount of time in a crossing keeper job before you could start applying for grades 2 plus? Thanks
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If you were or are prepared to go straight into the signalling grades with no experience, then moving up the grades with some experience as soon you can has got to be an option.
 
D

desrudy

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What should be the schedule after completing the signalling school ?
I mean the week after do you move straight to the location where u will worK ?
 
T

Tom Quinne

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desrudy said:
What should be the schedule after completing the signalling school ?
I mean the week after do you move straight to the location where u will worK ?
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You’ll finish school on the Friday, you’ll either go straight into your box Monday or you’ll be given some AL before going into your location.
 
R

Rammie

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desrudy said:
What should be the schedule after completing the signalling school ?
I mean the week after do you move straight to the location where u will worK ?
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You now do you your final week 11 exam on the Thursday, pass out parade on the Friday.

Week 12 final observation the next week, which is a practice day one day then the final observation the next. Can be on any day of the week. We’ve just had two back from school. One had a practice day on Sunday, exam on Monday, the other Thursday and Friday. Both also had to do a further 13 week track circuit course as they had previously been out on an AB course.
 
T

Tom Quinne

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Speaker said:
Thanks for all your replies.
Do people enjoy being signallers?
Once in do they stay for a long time?
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Generally yes, if you keep out of the politics which is tricky at times as it effects you doing your job.

Once your in the grade, you’ll stay generally for your career.
 
L

LOM

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Tom Quinne said:
Once your in the grade, you’ll stay generally for your career.
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That depends how ambitious you are. Derek Holmes started out as a grade 2 signaller and became Operations Director for the entire company before his untimely death. There are many opportunities outside the signalling grade if you want to do something different. Becoming a signaller is a good way to get a lot of valuable operational experience under your belt quickly especially in the bigger boxes.
 
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S

SiggysigAah

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Good afternoon

I have been reading this thread for a few months with a view to applying for signaller vacancies. I have a question about relief roles, from what I have read 4% is for a relief in a single location with 32% applying to relief covering multiple locations? What would a relief role with 24% require as it falls between the two relief percentages I have discovered so far? Additionally are there any other relief roles and rates I have not yet encountered?

Thanks
 
T

Tom Quinne

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LOM said:
That depends how ambitious you are. Derek Holmes started out as a grade 2 signaller and became Operations Director for the entire company before his untimely death. There are many opportunities outside the signalling grade if you want to do something different. Becoming a signaller is a good way to get a lot of valuable operational experience under your belt quickly especially in the bigger boxes.
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Indeed, but the point in which the effort required to undertake your role and the financial reward cross is pretty quick once you leave the upper signalling grades.

Where is the financial reward for grade 7/8/9 signaller to step into the LOM role or even go into the SSM grade?

Book on, do your job, book off - Signaller.

Your always on call or expected to undertake tasks as a LOM for very little if any extra money?
 
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