Operations Management Graduate Review

My experience at Network Rail has been genuinely rewarding. Joining as an operations management graduate gave me exposure to a complex, safety‑critical environment where every decision has real impact. I’ve had the chance to rotate through different teams, work alongside experienced professionals, and take ownership of meaningful projects early on. The culture is supportive, and people are always willing to share their knowledge, which makes it a great place to learn and grow. It’s a fast‑paced organisation with plenty of challenges, but that’s also what makes the work engaging. Overall, it’s been a strong foundation for developing both my technical understanding of rail operations and my confidence as a future leader in the industry.

My responsibilities so far have spanned two contrasting areas: Autumn Control, where I supported real‑time decision‑making around adhesion issues, railhead treatment, and incident response, and now signalling projects, where I help with planning, documentation, risk reviews, and coordinating stakeholders for upcoming upgrades. I enjoyed the fast pace and teamwork in Control, especially seeing the immediate impact of operational decisions, while my signalling rotation has given me a deeper appreciation of long‑term infrastructure planning and how technical changes shape the future railway. Together, the roles have given me a well‑rounded view of both day‑to‑day operations and strategic project delivery.

I’ve felt able to contribute meaningfully in both of my rotations, and my teams have always made it clear that my input is valued. In Autumn Control, I was trusted to support real‑time decisions that directly affected train performance, which gave me a strong sense of responsibility and impact. In signalling projects, I’m involved in planning and coordination tasks that feed into major upgrade work, and colleagues treat me as a genuine part of the team rather than “just a graduate.” Having that mix of ownership, support, and recognition has made the role feel genuinely worthwhile.

My compensation package feels fair for the level of responsibility I have, and the wider benefits make a real difference to the overall value. The pension scheme is one of the strongest perks, and it’s something I really appreciate given how rare that level of employer contribution is elsewhere. The generous annual leave allowance and flexible working options also make the role feel sustainable, especially when balancing busy periods in operations or project work. I also value the travel benefits and access to professional development funding, which help me build my skills while progressing through the scheme. Together, these elements make the package feel competitive and supportive.

It’s preparing me really well for the future. Working in both real‑time operations and longer‑term signalling projects has given me a strong mix of practical decision‑making experience and an understanding of how major infrastructure changes are delivered. I’m building confidence, technical awareness, and stakeholder skills that feel directly transferable to a wide range of roles in the railway. The responsibility I’ve been trusted with, along with the support from my teams, makes me feel like I’m developing at a pace that will set me up strongly for whatever direction I choose next.

The support I’ve received has generally been very strong. HR has been responsive whenever I’ve needed clarity on scheme requirements or logistics, and my line managerhave taken the time to involve me in meaningful work rather than just observing from the sidelines. My mentor has been especially helpful for career guidance and understanding the wider organisation, while my buddy has been great for day‑to‑day questions and settling into the scheme. The only thing I’ve sometimes felt could be improved is having a bit more structured check‑ins during busy periods, but overall the support network around me has been reliable, approachable, and genuinely invested in my development.

My work–life balance has been good overall, and the role has generally supported my wellbeing. Autumn Control was naturally more intense, with early starts and fast‑paced days, but the team culture and flexibility around quieter periods helped keep things manageable. In my signalling projects rotation, the balance has been even stronger, with more predictable hours and the ability to plan my workload in a way that supports both productivity and personal time. The combination of flexible working, supportive managers, and a culture that respects boundaries has made it easier to maintain both my physical and mental wellbeing.

The culture at Network Rail has felt genuinely inclusive, supportive and welcoming throughout my time on the scheme. People are open, collaborative and willing to share their knowledge, which makes it easy to settle in and feel part of the team quickly. The organisation places real emphasis on safety, integrity and doing the right thing, and that comes through in day‑to‑day interactions. Hybrid working is well‑embedded, and there’s a good level of trust around managing your own time and workload. Overall, the atmosphere is positive, professional and grounded in a sense of shared purpose, which makes it a great environment to learn and grow.

Network Rail takes equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility seriously, and that’s been clear throughout my time on the scheme. There’s strong visibility around ED&I initiatives, active employee networks, and a genuine effort to create a workplace where people feel safe and respected. I’ve found the culture open and welcoming, and there’s a clear push to improve representation and accessibility across the organisation. While there’s always more progress to be made in a company of this size, the commitment feels real rather than just a box‑ticking exercise, and the conversations around inclusion are becoming more embedded in day‑to‑day work.

Yes

Network Rail is an easy organisation to recommend because it offers meaningful work, strong development opportunities and a genuinely supportive culture. You get to contribute to something that matters every day, whether that’s improving reliability, supporting major upgrades or helping keep the network moving. The people are welcoming and collaborative, the benefits are solid, and the flexibility makes the job sustainable. For anyone who wants a career with real purpose, long‑term progression and a workplace that invests in its graduates, it’s a great place to start.

It matched my expectations well. The recruitment process gave a clear picture of the mix of operational exposure, project experience and structured development the scheme offers, and that’s exactly what I’ve experienced so far. The rotations, level of responsibility and support have all aligned with what was described, and in some areas—like the variety of work and the trust placed in graduates—it’s actually exceeded what I anticipated.