Kelly Berry Apprentice – Signal Technician View Kelly's video about her experience (requires Windows Media Player) I am currently a third year signal apprentice with Tube Lines. I have completed my BTEC and am starting my HNC in September. I went to school in Erith, Kent. After leaving school I knew I didn’t want to go to college as I wanted to start earning and I had heard about apprenticeship so that’s all I thought about getting into. My dad is an engineer and my sister works on the underground so when I left school I knew wanted to do something to do with engineering as I always enjoyed helping my dad do jobs. I like fixing things after taking them apart and I am getting better at putting them together again. I applied to Tube Lines and was taken on. I’ve been here for two years and really enjoy all the work. The first year was at college and was a mix of theory and practical work which is what I wanted. I enjoyed getting to know people with similar interests as me and the course was good too. I completed a PEO (performing engineering operations) and continued my BTEC on day release when I went into the business. I found college really hard to start with and found it was a lot of work especially the maths. People at Tube Lines and the college (Newham) helped me with the work. On my first day in the business, I was sent to Finchley Central. I was a little nervous as I knew I was the only girl there, but everyone was friendly and really welcoming. They were all really helpful as well. They have had apprentices going for years so they are used to us now. I was there for six months, we did maintenance work nearly every day. But everyday was different I was then moved to Wembley Park where we also do maintenance every day; the maintenance includes track inspections, re-lamping, point’s maintenance (on possessions only) and gauging train stops. I really like doing all kinds of maintenance and get on well with all the people I’ve met so far. I found that every one you ask is willing to help you with any questions about the job and also if they can they are more than happy to help you with college work. The thing that I least enjoy about my job is waiting around until after peak has finished to do the maintenance, I find this really boring but it has to be done in case there is a failure! As I am an apprentice my path is already made for me, I have all my courses planned and if this all goes to plan I will be a TO in just under two years! Going forward I would like to do a degree in engineering or management and work up to become a senior manager. I think it will take a lot of effort but I know it is possible and that I can do it. James Bell Apprentice - Track Technician I left school with 9 GCSE’s at grade C or above, I was thinking about going on to do my A levels but was told about Tube Lines apprenticeship scheme. I liked the idea of having a job and going to college as well as being paid. I filled out a form and was invited for an interview at which I had to take some aptitude tests. I was then offered a job as a Track Technician apprentice. My first years training was at the apprentice school at Acton Town where I completed an NVQ 2 in basic engineering skills. This comprised of completing 5 engineering fields including electrical installation, bench fitting, machining, sheet metal and electronics. In each section you have to complete specific jobs to the satisfaction of the section leader. During the year we also have a day a week at college. I am taking my National Certificate at Newham College in Civil Engineering, it is a two year course and I am currently in the final year. At the beginning of the second year you get placements around the business to get an understanding of how the business works. My first placement was at Tube Lines head quarters in CanaryWharf. I am working with the Performance team analysing the performance of the Piccadilly line. This involves looking at all the assets on the line including fleet, signals, track and stations. Each day we calculate how much money we owe London Underground for the delays caused to passengers, if we are responsible we owe them where there is a dispute we go to an Attribution meeting to decide who is responsible for the delay. I am currently enjoying my placement and it has taught me what a Lost Customer Hour is and what it costs the company. My next placement is at ActonTown with the permanent way (track) team. So that shows how varied the apprenticeship can be, from a computer desk at Westferry to the Piccadilly line track technician there’s a job to fit everyone. Tejinder Sohel Apprentice – Track Technician My father introduced me to engineering, taking me to his workshop during summer holidays to work on the machinery. Soon after, I started to learn the basics and then spent my two-week school work experience at the workshop working within a real work environment, which I enjoyed a lot. Personally I didn't like the educational system and the options it provided, so I decided that the best move was to see a Careers Adviser and get the best options for developing a career within engineering. I was introduced to Modern Apprenticeships where I could work to gain experience and study at the same time and then integrate into the business using the skills. I had heard good things about Tube Lines Apprenticeship schemes from my careers adviser and also from friends. I was offered an apprenticeship as a Track Technician and I am now in my final year of the scheme. During one of my placements in the second year I learnt about "Railfail". This was dealing with rail failure on the three lines, investigating the causes of the failure and developing prevention against recurrence. This gave me a great insight into how delicate and fragile track can be and how easily the travelling public can be affected. I am now working with the surveying department, monitoring different aspects of track. Looking for any sort of movement from the track or the surrounding structure, sections of track that may need renewal, surveying sections and passing on the data to track design where they modify the track features and track furniture to implement to existing parameters. This design is then passed on for the upgrades to be made. A typical day doesn't exist here, every day is different and eventful, which is why I enjoy my job so much. When I come into the office I check emails and then use Liscad to plot our survey that we did over previous nights and then pass it onto track design. A number of extra jobs occur during days such as drawing up station descriptions. The surveys themselves are carried out at night once public service has stopped. My aim is to finish my apprenticeship and go on to do a degree in Civil Engineering while developing a career with Tube Lines. I love the structure of the apprenticeship and would not change anything as it is running perfectly. It is my ideal job and I am very happy at Tube Lines.
Kelly Berry
Apprentice – Signal Technician
I am currently a third year signal apprentice with Tube Lines. I have completed my BTEC and am starting my HNC in September.
I went to school in Erith, Kent. After leaving school I knew I didn’t want to go to college as I wanted to start earning and I had heard about apprenticeship so that’s all I thought about getting into.
My dad is an engineer and my sister works on the underground so when I left school I knew wanted to do something to do with engineering as I always enjoyed helping my dad do jobs. I like fixing things after taking them apart and I am getting better at putting them together again.
I applied to Tube Lines and was taken on. I’ve been here for two years and really enjoy all the work.
The first year was at college and was a mix of theory and practical work which is what I wanted. I enjoyed getting to know people with similar interests as me and the course was good too. I completed a PEO (performing engineering operations) and continued my BTEC on day release when I went into the business.
I found college really hard to start with and found it was a lot of work especially the maths. People at Tube Lines and the college (Newham) helped me with the work.
On my first day in the business, I was sent to Finchley Central. I was a little nervous as I knew I was the only girl there, but everyone was friendly and really welcoming. They were all really helpful as well. They have had apprentices going for years so they are used to us now. I was there for six months, we did maintenance work nearly every day. But everyday was different
I was then moved to Wembley Park where we also do maintenance every day; the maintenance includes track inspections, re-lamping, point’s maintenance (on possessions only) and gauging train stops. I really like doing all kinds of maintenance and get on well with all the people I’ve met so far. I found that every one you ask is willing to help you with any questions about the job and also if they can they are more than happy to help you with college work.
The thing that I least enjoy about my job is waiting around until after peak has finished to do the maintenance, I find this really boring but it has to be done in case there is a failure!
As I am an apprentice my path is already made for me, I have all my courses planned and if this all goes to plan I will be a TO in just under two years! Going forward I would like to do a degree in engineering or management and work up to become a senior manager. I think it will take a lot of effort but I know it is possible and that I can do it.
James Bell
Apprentice - Track Technician
I left school with 9 GCSE’s at grade C or above, I was thinking about going on to do my A levels but was told about Tube Lines apprenticeship scheme. I liked the idea of having a job and going to college as well as being paid. I filled out a form and was invited for an interview at which I had to take some aptitude tests. I was then offered a job as a Track Technician apprentice.
My first years training was at the apprentice school at Acton Town where I completed an NVQ 2 in basic engineering skills. This comprised of completing 5 engineering fields including electrical installation, bench fitting, machining, sheet metal and electronics. In each section you have to complete specific jobs to the satisfaction of the section leader.
During the year we also have a day a week at college. I am taking my National Certificate at Newham College in Civil Engineering, it is a two year course and I am currently in the final year.
At the beginning of the second year you get placements around the business to get an understanding of how the business works. My first placement was at Tube Lines head quarters in CanaryWharf.
I am working with the Performance team analysing the performance of the Piccadilly line. This involves looking at all the assets on the line including fleet, signals, track and stations. Each day we calculate how much money we owe London Underground for the delays caused to passengers, if we are responsible we owe them where there is a dispute we go to an Attribution meeting to decide who is responsible for the delay.
I am currently enjoying my placement and it has taught me what a Lost Customer Hour is and what it costs the company. My next placement is at ActonTown with the permanent way (track) team. So that shows how varied the apprenticeship can be, from a computer desk at Westferry to the Piccadilly line track technician there’s a job to fit everyone.
Tejinder Sohel
Apprentice – Track Technician
My father introduced me to engineering, taking me to his workshop during summer holidays to work on the machinery. Soon after, I started to learn the basics and then spent my two-week school work experience at the workshop working within a real work environment, which I enjoyed a lot.
Personally I didn't like the educational system and the options it provided, so I decided that the best move was to see a Careers Adviser and get the best options for developing a career within engineering. I was introduced to Modern Apprenticeships where I could work to gain experience and study at the same time and then integrate into the business using the skills. I had heard good things about Tube Lines Apprenticeship schemes from my careers adviser and also from friends. I was offered an apprenticeship as a Track Technician and I am now in my final year of the scheme. During one of my placements in the second year I learnt about "Railfail". This was dealing with rail failure on the three lines, investigating the causes of the failure and developing prevention against recurrence. This gave me a great insight into how delicate and fragile track can be and how easily the travelling public can be affected.
I am now working with the surveying department, monitoring different aspects of track. Looking for any sort of movement from the track or the surrounding structure, sections of track that may need renewal, surveying sections and passing on the data to track design where they modify the track features and track furniture to implement to existing parameters. This design is then passed on for the upgrades to be made.
A typical day doesn't exist here, every day is different and eventful, which is why I enjoy my job so much. When I come into the office I check emails and then use Liscad to plot our survey that we did over previous nights and then pass it onto track design. A number of extra jobs occur during days such as drawing up station descriptions. The surveys themselves are carried out at night once public service has stopped.
My aim is to finish my apprenticeship and go on to do a degree in Civil Engineering while developing a career with Tube Lines. I love the structure of the apprenticeship and would not change anything as it is running perfectly. It is my ideal job and I am very happy at Tube Lines.