Operations Apprenticeship Review
at Network Rail
Level 4/5 Apprenticeship
Logistics and Operations
Stratford, Greater London
Review Submitted: October 2026
Overall Rating
5 /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
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
5/5
-
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
Over the eighteen month operations apprenticeship, I take part in different operational placements on my route, High Speed. These placements last six to ten weeks with a particular team, and allow me to learn first-hand a lot about operations. My first placement will be with route crime, and my second will be with station management. The tasks I have to do day-to-day depend on which placement I am doing, and what projects the teams are working on; no two days are exactly the same!
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I very much enjoy my programme because of its variety and flexibility. I have a lot of input into which placements I complete; if I think anything looks interesting, I can simply e-mail someone to ask if I can complete a placement with them, and in most instances the answer will be yes. Furthermore, if I am on a placement and find I am not enjoying it, I am under no obligation to complete it, as long as I have another placement to go to. This flexibility and adaptability ensures I will never get too bored in what I am doing. The programme also includes a lot of site visits, like to depots or closed sections of stations. Through this, I get to see lots of fascinating things and get a more well-rounded view of the railway.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
This job is my first full-time job since leaving education, and I have learnt and developed a lot of general workplace skills. Network Rail gave me a lot of support in this, even before I started my job: all the starters in my cohort were booked onto three workplace skill development sessions led by an external company, with online resources also provided.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
There is a lot of support: Network Rail partnered me up with a 'Buddy' from the previous year's cohort who was (and still is) a great source of support. My line manager and everyone I have met at the company has been very supportive and welcoming. I feel I can go to anyone I have met and ask for help or guidance.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
Network Rail has a number of peer to peer support groups which organise activities, and everyone at the company is able to join in with them.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Network Rail to a friend?
Yes
Why?
Everyone I have met at Network Rail has been very welcoming and supportive, and there is a very friendly workplace culture. For my scheme the variety in opportunities is incredible, and something that schemes at other companies do not often have.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Network Rail?
Remember that Network Rail works with some of the most important infrastructure in the country, and is a safety-critical organisation.
