Operative to Technician Fast Track Programme (Signalling and Telecoms) – London, Stafford, Stoke, Nuneaton, Rugby, Bletchley, Milton Keynes

Operative to Technician Fast Track Programme (Signalling and Telecoms) – London, Stafford, Stoke, Nuneaton, Rugby, Bletchley, Milton Keynes

Location

, GB

Department Name

OB AD West Coast MLS Indirect (104501) G2About Network Rail

• At Network Rail, we’re part of a large family serving millions of passengers and freight users throughout Britain every day. Our service impacts millions of people and we strive to become more efficient as we enhance, maintain and operate our network. Now is a fantastic time to join our maintenance team within West Coast South Route.

Our passengers and freight users are at the heart of everything we do. We help connect people to their friends and families and get goods to their destination safely and efficiently. We’re an organisation where people matter. When you’re part of our team, you matter to us and you matter to millions.

More about the West Coast South Route

The West Coast South route stretches from the south of Crewe to London Euston, carrying millions of passengers, and up to 10% of the country’s freight traffic each year. Our route contains the West Coast main line which stretches over 1,000 miles of track and has 64 passenger stations. It’s also the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe, forming Anglo-Scottish journeys between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as providing commuter links to the capital through Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Buckinghamshire.

The West Coast main line was electrified in the 1960s, allowing for longer, faster train services for passengers and freight. This meant that London Euston Station has to be rebuilt to create space for the new overhead equipment and was the first station in London to provide express passenger journeys to distant cities.

Brief Description

About the programme 

Today’s Operatives are tomorrow’s Technicians and Team Leaders and we can offer a clear career path for you through our structured development programme which will provide you with the skills and confidence you need to become a successful Technician within Signalling and Telecoms.

We are on the lookout for talented and passionate Operatives who are keen to move or grow within the Signalling & Telecoms space and become our next cohort of high performing Technicians. The programme is open to all Signalling and Telecoms locations within the West Coast South Route (Stafford DU, Bletchley DU, Euston DU)

This is a brilliant opportunity for you to fast track your career on the front line. You get to work and learn from experts within this field and develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment from maintenance through design, installation, testing and fault finding.

Within this 18–24-month structured programme you will remain in your current post as an Operative and will still be carrying out your Operative duties when required, but you will also spend a large proportion of your time being upskilled and undertaking trained in all things Signalling and Telecoms. There will be lots of information for you to absorb.

After the programme is complete and if you have successfully passed the training, you will then be promoted into a Technician post within Signalling and Telecoms. If you do not successfully pass the training, you will remain in your current Operative post.

During this programme, we will also be supporting you to obtain your Institution of Railway Signal Engineers Licence (IRSE) which is critical when you are working with signalling equipment.

How to apply: You do not need to submit a CV as part of this application process; we will be accepting applications via the following application form only. Please complete the following form to submit your application: https://forms.office.com/e/1W9uyJSJYQ

About the role (External)

This is a brilliant opportunity for you to fast track your career on the front line. You will come in as an Operative on a fixed term contract, and be placed on a 18–24-month structured programme so you can get to work and learn from experts within the Signalling and Telecoms field and develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment from maintenance through design, installation, testing and fault finding in the world of Signalling and Telecoms. There will be lots of information for you to absorb.

About the Technician role 

Our technicians provide the essential link between the Team Leader and the team’s Operatives. 

You’ll be working with equipment including signals that control when trains can run, level crossings and points systems. With your willingness to learn, you’ll develop a huge range of technical skills across a range of manual, electrical and digital equipment. 

Our technicians work outside in all conditions, at all times of the year, day or night. You could be involved in demanding manual work, often with the need to transport kit across tricky terrain. Being safety focused, respectful of rules and a team player will be critical as you’ll often be working next to moving trains travelling at high speed. 

A natural team player, you’ll also be able to lead the team when asked by the Team Leader. You’ll use your skills to deliver work safely and will check the team has the right competencies to meet our strict safety standards. You’ll also be a role model for safe working behaviours and be confident to challenge any potential risks to safety, so that everyone gets home safe every day. 

Your skills matter

As part of your application, you will need to show how your transferrable skills meet the following:

• Teamwork Our maintenance teams depend on each other and you’ll be able to work closely with the team to deliver safe and efficient work delivery.
• Communication You’ll have good communication skills so you can work safely and effectively.
• Proactive planning and being punctual, having the van and equipment ready and anticipating the needs of the team are essential to keeping our passengers and freight moving.
• Working under pressure Working outdoors in all conditions, and with trains passing close by means you’ll need to remain calm under pressure.
• Following rules and instructions It is important that you understand and respect the rules, but also feel confident to challenge if you see a situation is unsafe.
• Willingness to learn You’ll consistently develop your skills and competencies relevant to your discipline, keeping up to date with new standards, procedures, and instructions
• In addition, you are required to have relevant experience in an electrical/signalling/engineering environment

It matters that this is the right decision for you.

Here’s some additional information which might help you:

• Shifts – Operative roles involve a changing shift pattern including days, nights, and weekends.
• Outdoor working – Our operatives work outside in all weathers and so you’ll be comfortable working in different conditions.
• Safe working – offers of employment are subject to drug and alcohol testing and passing of the relevant medical assessment and BPSS pre-employment checks. This will include a hearing and eyesight examination.
• Driving – As an operative you’ll also need a driving licence (category B) so you can drive Network Rail vehicles.
• Commute times – You’ll also need to be within a 60-minute commute of the location that you’re applying for.

Please also note, as this is a structured programme there will be a large amount of information to be absorbed. In addition, the programme is structured around block learning therefore annual leave must be booked around the pre-determined training blocks and within set options.

What is an IRSE Licence?

An Institution of Railway Signal Engineers Licence (IRSE) provides assurance about your competence to carry out technical safety-critical or safety-related work on signalling and railway telecommunications equipment and systems. It provides an accepted cross-industry benchmark of competence of individuals carrying out a range of activities from maintenance through design, installation, testing, project engineering and senior technical management.

Your commitment to self-development and continuous learning is hugely important during this structured programme and we’ll provide you with all the training to develop both technical and non-technical skills which will give you the skills and confidence to become our future leaders.

How to apply (External)

How to apply: You do not need to submit a CV as part of this application process; we will be accepting applications via the following application form only. Please complete the following form to submit your application: https://forms.office.com/e/1W9uyJSJYQ

You can find more information about the programme in the FAQ document attached under this advert.

Please note this is a 18-24 month Fixed Term Contract as an Operative with the potential to go permanent to a Technician if you have successfully passed and completed the relevant training.

Salary: IMC25- £34,244. This will increase to IMC25- £40,639 if you are successful on securing a permanent position as a Technician,

Please also note that you may be required to travel to other training facilities that might be outside of your local route remit. You may also have to attend training sessions of an evening and of weekends too.

Closing date: 9th August 2024. Late applications will not be accepted. 

The assessment process will consist of a competency and technical interview, dates yet to be confirmed.

Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision

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