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Network Rail Apprenticeships

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desirokma

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Hmmm slightly confused on that one.
Took all certificates plus two copies of certs and they were stamped "this is a true copy of original certificate"
Also is it now true that after 5 years your GCSE's become obsolete?
 
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t o m

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I too have heard that about exam certificates becoming obselete. If you look at adverts for jobs the majority are more interested in experience, as opposed to GCSE grades, anyway. Makes sense though really, they'll probably change the exam system at some point and GCSEs will be old hat.
 

desirokma

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Glad I am not the only one to have heard it.
Its been 5 years since I left school so if it is true my certs mean nothing now anyway
Yeah your right it does. I mean why would say somebody in their 30's need GCSE certs? When they no doubtedly have worked and experience in work.
 

Paul Bond

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I have also lost my science gcse certificate. I got intouch with the exam board (edexel) and they are replacing it for £35. You have to send off birth certificate/passport and make a payment via credit card. I was told it can take 6-10 weeks for you to receive it. I also got intouch with network rail and informed them of my situation and was told "You've done the right thing by taking the right steps to obtain a copy of the original - if it's not here in time for the assessment centre, please still attend, if you are successful, we can then cross reference your certificate as soon as you receive it."
 

hedpe

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My english exam board was AQA - on their website it states that a copy of your certificate cannot be obtained unless you can show evidence from a police or fire brigade report that your house was either burned down or robbed... They have an alternative which isnt by definition a certificate, but is supposed to be just as valid.
 

Paul Bond

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I had my assessment day yesterday, it was a good day and great experience. I hope I did enough!!
 

quak_C

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28 Mar 2011
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I think it went pretty well, thanks :) just waiting to here back now, hopefully I have an email this week.

You have an interview, yeah?

Thats good man wish you luck

Yeah still waiting to find out when it is but atleast I know I have one and Im not sitting waiting to hear back :)
 

Aliimaytte

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11 Apr 2011
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Hi guys, I've applied to the apprenticeship and have now been invited to an assessment day, I'm not sure when/where it is but was just wondering what sort of things it includes e.g. interview, tests ect.

Alii
 

rockie234567

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13 Apr 2011
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I got through to the interview stage aswell :), Judging by how many people have come back to say they got through and the people i met and stayed in touch with they all got through aswell, are they even rejecting people lol it seems that its quite easy to get through to the interview stage and with the amount of assesment days they done + the amount of people they accepting im doubting my odds of even getting accepted after the interview stage
 

erolosman

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anyone got there interview date yet? its been since feb since i found out i got through and all i got was a text last month saying there organising it soon but still aint heard anything
 

quak_C

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anyone got there interview date yet? its been since feb since i found out i got through and all i got was a text last month saying there organising it soon but still aint heard anything

same here man my email said the interview will be some time between may and july
 

TheSlash

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Having restructured the company to exactly the number of employees required at each depot in order to carry out the maintenance, where do they intend to keep putting 200 apprentices each year?

As Hydro has already mentioned, the apprenticeship is very much what you make it.
I've seen too many apprentices cosy upto somebody on an easy number, such as assisting the Assest Inspector, or working with the Tech department in a warm office, only to find that the job doesn't exist beyond the end of their apprenticeship. It leads to a very quick introduction to the real world where they finish a three year apprenticeship as a Track Operative with a Lookout competency.
 

miikey

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9 Jan 2011
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That wont happen. In our contract it states that if there isn't a job at the 'assessed' compentency level, then one will be created for us. So long as we are looking for a job in the mean time.
 

desirokma

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Great Barr, Birmingham
I don't know.

They've taken on apprentices for the last 3 years at my depot, when the only vacancies have come about through people taking voluntary redundancy at the Phase 2b/c re-organisation.

As for what happens in the future, who knows? We'll find out soon, when this years lot are done and there's no job (in the maintenance unit) for them.

Thats really unerved me as they told us at the end of the three years we would go straight into our chosen speciality. So is that a lie? I dont get why they keep opening up if nothing to give at the end of it. They cant expect people to pvr all the time surely
 

Lengthman

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Totally agree with Marklund, at my depot there wasnt any technical jobs available for the apprentice after 3 years. He has now been slotted into track inspections, not really fair on him. I know of other depots where the exact same thing is happening to apprentices, put into positions that dont necessarily suit their skills. A waste of 3 years training and experience.

If you think about it logically, 300 apprentices every year doesent add up. No way is there going to be that amount of jobs available or movements within the technical departments to allocate every apprentice a position.

NWR have just gone through a restructure and have numerous people who are displaced, so how can the company justify taking on more bodies when it has surplus at present.

If you are cynical then it might be presumed that the scheme is heavily funded by the government for which NWR have cheap labour and they can pick the best candidates for the future.
 

jamdogg

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7 Feb 2011
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Now I'am glad i had a back up job cause this is smelling a bit fishy. What does the future pay go up to with the network rail scheme? This other job is £26,000 by the third year with future progression, could network rail compete with that?
 

TheSlash

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That wont happen. In our contract it states that if there isn't a job at the 'assessed' compentency level, then one will be created for us. So long as we are looking for a job in the mean time.

That would be why i have two Trackmen who are ex apprentices?
 

t o m

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7 Feb 2011
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If you are cynical then it might be presumed that the scheme is heavily funded by the government for which NWR have cheap labour and they can pick the best candidates for the future.

The government give 50% less funding for apprentices aged 19 or over and with the majority of applicants over 19 the scheme will be costing NR more.


jamdogg said:
What does the future pay go up to with the network rail scheme?

On NR website it says the starting salary for a track maintenance operative is from £18,242 plus shift allowances.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/10157.aspx

I suppose it depends on where you end up and how lucky you are at the end of the course.
 

erolosman

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10 Feb 2011
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jus got an email from network rail bout my interview part of it says:
"This is just a quick update to let you know that we are currently in the process of obtaining a date for your interview. It will take place sometime between May and July and you will be notified via email regarding all the information you will need to prepare for the interview. We will give you at least a weeks notice but we aim to give you more if possible. Can we ask that you are as flexible as possible to try to accommodate your interview, as logistically, we have a very big job on our hands trying to arrange circa 650 interviews at present!". so 650 people got through to the interviews not bad numbers near enough 1 in 3 people will get accepted after the interview, good luck :)
 
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