Engineering technician apprentice Review
at Network Rail
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Engineering
Colchester
Review Submitted: February 2026
Overall Rating
4.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
3.8/5
-
Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
Engineering Technician apprentice, discipline overhead line equipment, maintenance, inspecting, reviewing OLE.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
5 enjoying career change, learning something new, the teamwork and collaboration.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
Yes a lot to do with the rail industry, electricity, continuity, fault finding, tools, housekeeping, legislation, close calls, etc.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
Network Rail training is very well organised, always given handouts, clear and related content is taught leaving me with a sense of confidence to build upon this knowledge and gain further experience.
Inspiro teaching very intense, no reference books, no clear reading list, during online delivery expected to take screenshots, take notes, participate, assimilate information given and to know without the downtime to progress the new information, questions are unclear and confusing to understand, often missing the basic and contextual information to understand a specific context.
Inspiro teaching very intense, no reference books, no clear reading list, during online delivery expected to take screenshots, take notes, participate, assimilate information given and to know without the downtime to progress the new information, questions are unclear and confusing to understand, often missing the basic and contextual information to understand a specific context.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Gang colleagues very helpful, willing to share their knowledge and answer any questions, no matter how many times you ask the same one! Managers very accommodating and approachable with setting expectation to apprentice assignments are the priority.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
4/5
Training provider willing to offer support, but this is challenging to in terms of it being realised... request for access to the presentation material in advance due to dyslexia needs not really realised despite promises.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
It provide me with theory about electricity and materials to underpin the maintenance part of my role.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There are various engage events that can be joined.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Network Rail to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Very supportive environment, there is lots to learn, its given me a new lease of life, recommend as a career change, opened my eyes- never realised how much is going on overhead and it steep in history.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Network Rail?
Do it... use the Mechanical materials for Dummies, Physics for Dummies.
