What was your path into the rail industry?
My mum said I had to go to university or get a job – so I went to uni because I didn’t want to get a job! I was interested in maths and physics, so I studied engineering and graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering.
Once I had finished my degree, I went on an extended holiday for three months. When I got back, I applied for graduate programmes and was offered a place with Colas Rail UK. So, I sort of fell into working in rail.
What led you to do a master’s degree apprenticeship?
After finishing the graduate programme with Colas Rail UK, I started looking into a master’s. A degree apprenticeship was suggested to me, and it seemed like a great option because I wouldn’t have to fund it myself or do all my studying in the evenings and weekends. It also covered all the different aspects of railway systems, which was interesting.
How was your degree apprenticeship structured?
I spent two or four weeks every term in Birmingham, doing full-time study. I was with other professionals from different parts of the industry, so I learnt a lot from them too. I learnt the theory, and from people who had real-life experience. Colas Rail UK also funded this – when I had to go to Birmingham, they would pay for my travel and a week in a hotel.
Other than those weeks of full-time study, I was on the job. I had to put some extra hours of study in at home when I had project deadlines. I would finish slightly earlier on these days and go home.
How did your degree apprenticeship equip you for your career?
It gave me an overview of all the different parts of the rail industry. I could understand other disciplines better and the challenges they had. This helped me look at things more collaboratively and see how my team could work better.
My degree apprenticeship also taught me the theory and real-life applications. I’m a physical learner, so it helped me understand what I was learning in a real-life environment.
What are your favourite aspects of your job?
My favourite aspect is seeing work come together at the end of a project. We would have spent months planning – and then getting to see the project unfold and the result is rewarding. In signalling, the projects would be assisting with track renewal. We upgrade existing equipment to ensure the longevity of the infrastructure. It’s interesting to know that something I have been a part of will still be in use for the next 30 odd years!
What does a typical day look like for you as a Signalling Project Engineer?
During the week, I am in the office – having discussions with my team and planning upcoming projects. During the weekend, I will be on-site, seeing the projects we’ve planned being delivered or going for site walks for upcoming projects.
The days and times that I work change from week to week. I struggled with this at first because I wasn’t the one planning my own time. I struggled not knowing where I was going to be at any one moment – you can’t plan a life around that. Now I roster our whole team and I try my best to plan a roster 12 weeks out, so everyone has an idea of where they are and what they are doing. And I got better at advocating for my work/life balance; booking time off; saying, “I can’t work this weekend because I am busy.”
Would you recommend a career in rail?
I would recommend a career in rail. I think it is something that anyone could do. Rail is very varied – there are so many different careers to choose from. If you are unsure what you want to do, a career in rail is great because you can go anywhere, move around and see different parts of the industry. You can do project management, you can be an engineer, you can be a designer or an office manager. You can be pretty much anything you want to be in rail.
