Working, Learning and Progress in your Career

[16.19]

Im a qualified driver based out of Leeds and I really do love my job. I’m not ‘into’ trains but I enjoy what I do and I’d like to say I’m good at it - in the sense that I am suited to this role more than any other role I had outside the railway.

I have around 30-33 years of work until I can retire (who knows what retirement will look like by that point?!), I put into Brass every week and have done since I started and I’m on the final-salary-pension.

A long way to go. So my question is; how can I progress my future academically whilst continuing as a qualified driver? I understand there is a Degree but it reads as though it’s more suited (perhaps a pre-requisite) to someone who’s in a management role?

Does anyone have any advice or indeed experience with progress?


Regards

 

[Stigy]

Im a qualified driver based out of Leeds and I really do love my job. I’m not ‘into’ trains but I enjoy what I do and I’d like to say I’m good at it - in the sense that I am suited to this role more than any other role I had outside the railway.

I have around 30-33 years of work until I can retire (who knows what retirement will look like by that point?!), I put into Brass every week and have done since I started and I’m on the final-salary-pension.

A long way to go. So my question is; how can I progress my future academically whilst continuing as a qualified driver? I understand there is a Degree but it reads as though it’s more suited (perhaps a pre-requisite) to someone who’s in a management role?

Does anyone have any advice or indeed experience with progress?


Regards

Most TOCs will support staff in this respect and have numerous opportunities to undertake apprenticeship courses etc. I did a couple when I was at SWR, although I didn’t feel they benefitted me a great deal personally.

You can of course move in to management etc without progressing yourself academically, just using your experiences. It’s also worth utilising LinkedIn if you want to move in to management and start networking with the right people.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Are you a member of ASLEF? If so, you could have a chat with your ULR about the educational courses available to you and your family.

 

[16.19]

Most TOCs will support staff in this respect and have numerous opportunities to undertake apprenticeship courses etc. I did a couple when I was at SWR, although I didn’t feel they benefitted me a great deal personally.

You can of course move in to management etc without progressing yourself academically, just using your experiences. It’s also worth utilising LinkedIn if you want to move in to management and start networking with the right people.

Thank you Stigy, I’ll see what’s possible with my ToC in the new year!

Are you a member of ASLEF? If so, you could have a chat with your ULR about the educational courses available to you and your family.

I am a member of Aslef. I heard that the free courses were being scrapped, but that may of just been the typical rumour-mill stirrings

 

[driver9000]

There is a railway degree available through the IRO and I know a couple who have completed it while working full time as Drivers. Your employer should be a corporate member so your own membership is free through them but the degree is not free.

 

[TJ123]

I would say it depends what you are interested in academically. That's the beauty of the railway you don't need a specific degree unless its an area that particularly requires specialist knowledge.

You've probably already heard of the IRO, they do a range of qualifications, you don't need to be management but obviously must meet the requirements.

As a driver there are other avenues you can go down other than the traditional driver management route. How about doing a NEBOSH qualification and go down the health and safety/operations standards route. Or maybe a CIPD qualification and go back to the school as a driver trainer.

Anything is possible

 

[16.19]

There is a railway degree available through the IRO and I know a couple who have completed it while working full time as Drivers. Your employer should be a corporate member so your own membership is free through them but the degree is not free.

Interesting. Do you know if they felt it was a good course and worth the time and money?

I would say it depends what you are interested in academically. That's the beauty of the railway you don't need a specific degree unless its an area that particularly requires specialist knowledge.

You've probably already heard of the IRO, they do a range of qualifications, you don't need to be management but obviously must meet the requirements.

As a driver there are other avenues you can go down other than the traditional driver management route. How about doing a NEBOSH qualification and go down the health and safety/operations standards route. Or maybe a CIPD qualification and go back to the school as a driver trainer.

Anything is possible

I am interested in the Railway as a whole, although not in the ‘spotter’ sense, but more the history and importantly the future of our Railway.

I’ve always been interested in continuous improvement

 

[ComUtoR]

I have the Train Driving NVQ/City and Guild qualification. All our new Drivers get pushed through the apprenticeship and they gain the relevant qualification. Our Instructors gain the next level so if you were considering going forward to Instructor/Manager, it would help provide some tangible evidence of your progress as a Driver.

 

[16.19]

I have the Train Driving NVQ/City and Guild qualification. All our new Drivers get pushed through the apprenticeship and they gain the relevant qualification. Our Instructors gain the next level so if you were considering going forward to Instructor/Manager, it would help provide some tangible evidence of your progress as a Driver.

Do you know which City&Guilds qualification you received ComUtoR?

 

[dctraindriver]

Join the IRO, I have. If I was younger I’d definitely be contemplating another degree. Always good to keep the grey matter ticking over.

 

[choochoochoo]

Do you need to become a driver instructor/ driver manager to teach rules ? Or can a TOC take you off the roster to teach rules ?

That is assuming you get whatever qualifications you need to be able to teach rules and the TOC need a trainer.

 

[DA1]

What’s IRO?

 

[choochoochoo]

What’s IRO?

institution of railway operators

 

[16.19]

Do you need to become a driver instructor/ driver manager to teach rules ? Or can a TOC take you off the roster to teach rules ?

That is assuming you get whatever qualifications you need to be able to teach rules and the TOC need a trainer.

I’m a minder or a ‘Mentor’ as it’s called now so I teach both driving application and route knowledge but also rules later on with my trainees. I’m unsure if you need a specific qualification as a DTM for assessing rules competency

 

[ComUtoR]

Do you know which City&Guilds qualification you received ComUtoR?

Not sure of my initial qualifications (I'd have to find my CV somewhwere) but..

L3 Certificate in Learning and Development

The following 3 modules :
L3 Facilitate learning and development for individuals
L3 Understanding the principles and paractices of assessment
L3 Assess occupational competence in the work environment

Gimme a sec to pull out my CV

 

[DA1]

institution of railway operators

Many thanks.

It would be interesting to hear someone’s personal experience if they’ve gone through the IRO.

 

[16.19]

Not sure of my initial qualifications (I'd have to find my CV somewhwere) but..

L3 Certificate in Learning and Development

The following 3 modules :
L3 Facilitate learning and development for individuals
L3 Understanding the principles and paractices of assessment
L3 Assess occupational competence in the work environment

Gimme a sec to pull out my CV

Thank you

 

[ComUtoR]

NVQ

L2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving) (Awarded 2009)

And was successful in the following 8 modules

Prepare to undertake duties
Assist in the provision of a safe and secure work environment
Obtain and communicate information
Develop and maintain productive working relationships
Operate and control trains in service
Respond to abnormal working situations
Handover and dispose of trains
Bring trains into service



I'm not sure what our current aprentiships are working towards but all of our new Drivers are in the scheme. There is much debate around it and my personal view is that I'd rather have it than not. It costs nothing and takes little to no effot to achieve. I got mine becuase I was asked to go on the trial.

It's a good CV filler and adds a talking point in interviews etc.

IIRC the qualification for Driver Manager was a single additional module. I could have got that signed off to but !!"£!"$!£$"£%£$%£ politics and other things.

Do you need to become a driver instructor/ driver manager to teach rules ? Or can a TOC take you off the roster to teach rules ?

That is assuming you get whatever qualifications you need to be able to teach rules and the TOC need a trainer.

Plenty of our Trainers haven't been Instrutors. The general rule is that you must be qualified in what you teach. One of our best Trainers used to be a Signaller. His rules knowledge was phenomenol and he was a great Teacher. Never drove a train.

An example would be a Blue Cab pass holder.

 

[16.19]

NVQ

L2 in Rail Transport Operations (Driving) (Awarded 2009)

And was successful in the following 8 modules

Prepare to undertake duties
Assist in the provision of a safe and secure work environment
Obtain and communicate information
Develop and maintain productive working relationships
Operate and control trains in service
Respond to abnormal working situations
Handover and dispose of trains
Bring trains into service



I'm not sure what our current aprentiships are working towards but all of our new Drivers are in the scheme. There is much debate around it and my personal view is that I'd rather have it than not. It costs nothing and takes little to no effot to achieve. I got mine becuase I was asked to go on the trial.

It's a good CV filler and adds a talking point in interviews etc.

IIRC the qualification for Driver Manager was a single additional module. I could have got that signed off to but !!"£!"$!£$"£%£$%£ politics and other things.



Plenty of our Trainers haven't been Instrutors. The general rule is that you must be qualified in what you teach. One of our best Trainers used to be a Signaller. His rules knowledge was phenomenol and he was a great Teacher. Never drove a train.

An example would be a Blue Cab pass holder.

Thank you Com,

I’m going to see if I can take this course to start with.

 

[Coach Carter]

Think the apprenticeship courses for drivers are now a level 3 apprenticeship. Equivalent to 2 A-levels. Pretty sure they said it’s level 3 that we are doing but I’ve been off so long due to Covid that I can’t remember

 

[ST]

Think the apprenticeship courses for drivers are now a level 3 apprenticeship. Equivalent to 2 A-levels. Pretty sure they said it’s level 3 that we are doing but I’ve been off so long due to Covid that I can’t remember

Yes, that's right. It's Level 3.

 

[Stigy]

Think the apprenticeship courses for drivers are now a level 3 apprenticeship. Equivalent to 2 A-levels. Pretty sure they said it’s level 3 that we are doing but I’ve been off so long due to Covid that I can’t remember

I’m not sure I understand driver apprenticeships; What are they used for? Once you’re a qualified driver, you’re a qualified driver? What difference does having a bit of paper make? I can understand TOCs/FOCs making their training for new trainees all apprenticeship based, but what’s the point in doing an Apprenticeship once qualified?

 

[16.19]

I’m not sure I understand driver apprenticeships; What are they used for? Once you’re a qualified driver, you’re a qualified driver? What difference does having a bit of paper make? I can understand TOCs/FOCs making their training for new trainees all apprenticeship based, but what’s the point in doing an Apprenticeship once qualified?

I think TOCs are going down the apprentice route mainly for their own gain, once a trainee qualifies (and passes the apprenticeship) the ToC will get paid for the pleasure.

Qualified drivers completing the apprenticeship would only be for CPD purposes. Although I’m not sure what you would gain out of it if anything.

 

[Coach Carter]

I’m not sure I understand driver apprenticeships; What are they used for? Once you’re a qualified driver, you’re a qualified driver? What difference does having a bit of paper make? I can understand TOCs/FOCs making their training for new trainees all apprenticeship based, but what’s the point in doing an Apprenticeship once qualified?

To be honest bud I think the only reason there putting us through them is because they get 21k in funding for each one they put through it. For me it’s pointless, I do absolutely nothing different to the normal trainee course and some other person in an office somewhere uses my test results and work etc as evidence for my level 3 qualification. Only thing I do have extra is a phone call from the apprenticeship people once every 6 week to see if I’m getting in ok.
Not sure what I can really use it for when I get it. It’s the licence that’s important.

 

[16.19]

After having a chat with my DTM recently he expressed interest that I apply for the next Driver Instructor role that comes up which is progression.

Im also putting money aside to take on the Railway Operations and Management degree in the future. Best of both worlds I guess