Ryan Lord | Rail apprentice | Transport Infrastructure
Hi, my name is Ryan and I am a degree apprentice with Amey, working on the Trans-Pennine Route Upgrade West. I am currently in my third year of studies and enjoying the challenge of both a full work week with working towards a degree one day a week.
I work on the rail side of Amey where I have been since 2018. The opportunity a degree apprenticeship offers you is far better than just going for a degree alone. This is because as you learn the necessary subjects to complete the academic side of things, you are able to gain work experience and get paid whilst doing so, something that will provide you with a great CV after completion of your degree.
Whilst being on Transpire I have had the opportunity to learn a number of different areas of the railway, for example I spent 6 months working with our signalling team where I completed my basic signalling level 1 and 2 course. This is a great help in getting involved in signalling as I learned all about the basic processes involved with signalling. As well as this I was involved with the practical side, by assisting in LOC cabinet surveys on weekend shifts. I also spent a lot of time with the track team. Due to having worked on the track side of things prior to my apprenticeship I was able to get much more involved in office and site work, completing different documents and processes and carrying out site work independently. I have worked on multiple blockades and had the experience of working in lots of different situations and devolving my Health and Safety awareness. I am now currently with the Power and Distribution team, I have settled in well and will begin learning from a curriculum that the team have created for me, it is something I find very interesting and I am looking forward to developing my knowledge with the team.
As well as working and studying I have become involved with the PWI – Permanent Way Institution – as an Ambassador, writing quarterly articles for their journal. They are all about helping you develop and learn about things you may not come across in your day job. For example, I was able to attend multiple seminars about the future of automation on the railway which had hosts and attendees from all around the world. PWI are also a great place for beginning working towards professional registration I hope to be applying for my Eng Tech with them very soon.
Within Amey I am also a Co-Lead Changemaker for the North West. I am very proud to be a part of this great scheme and look forward to making a difference within the wider business and Transpire. I am very grateful for the opportunity to become and apprentice and encourage anyone looking for the next step from school, college or University to consider an apprenticeship to help set you up in your career.
You can find out more about apprenticeship at Amey, here: https://www.amey.co.uk/your-career/early-careers/apprentices/