Apprenticeships and wrong qualification

squizz11

My son is 18 and has wanted to go into railway engineering since he was a child,  he has a very keen interest in railways in general.

He applied for network rail, did really well in the first section but got turned down as he did a city and guilds level 3 in engineering, which we have now found out disqualifies him for any level 3 roles.

If he leaves this off for other level 3 roles is there any way they can find out plus we have to try and come up with what he has been doing since leaving college, instead of the course.

His college told him this was the right  course so naturally he's gutted as he got great gcse results and distinction in his course.   He is currently working in an engineering firm as a labourer, but the railways is his dream job.

LightFlare

Considering lying factually or by admission is probably a bad idea.

Why not speak to a railways recruiter (if such exists) and ask for their advice regarding alternative career entry routes

Grumpy_chap

squizz11 said:

My son is 18 and has wanted to go into railway engineering since he was a child,  he has a very keen interest in railways in general.

He applied for network rail, did really well in the first section but got turned down as he did a city and guilds level 3 in engineering, which we have now found out disqualifies him for any level 3 roles.

If he leaves this off for other level 3 roles is there any way they can find out plus we have to try and come up with what he has been doing since leaving college, instead of the course.

His college told him this was the right  course so naturally he's gutted as he got great gcse results and distinction in his course.   He is currently working in an engineering firm as a labourer, but the railways is his dream job.

Are there other levels of entry to the various railway apprenticeship schemes?  Maybe Degree Apprenticeships.

To succeed in railway engineering with a white collar design / management role (which seems to be what you are describing) rather than a blue collar on-the-tools role, he will need to follow a route towards Chartership and that will mean an engineering degree.

If he is not able to secure entry via Degree Apprenticeship routes, can he follow a conventional engineering degree?

Do not lie in the applications.

Professional roles in railway engineering are enjoying very attractive salary rates at the moment, even compared to other professional engineering sectors, so it is a good choice for him to make.  The fact it is his passion is all the better still. 

squizz11

He doesn't want the white collar route,  he likes maintenance, fixing things etc.   He wanted to go in  at level 3,   the next step in network rail is level 6,  which is a degree based,  which He doesn't want to do. Plus he is under qualified for that role.  He was looking at TFL as they are looking for level 3 apprenticeships, but his level 3 city and guilds excludes him again, which was why I was asking is ommiting it a good idea and can they find out.

Seems getting bad advice at 16 has cost him his dream apprenticeship, which seems so unfair as the course is very basic

Grumpy_chap

There is a woeful shortage of blue collar Technicians in the rail industry.  Has he explored direct entry routes rather than Apprenticeship routes?
He may find greater success if he seeks entry via the Tier 1 contractors such as Kier Rail rather than the asset owners.  The asset owners such as Network Rail and TFL don't do much of their maintenance and renewal work in house - the majority is sub-contracted out.

caprikid1

Has he spoken to Siemens ? They employ a lot of railway techicians

Lomast

Something doesn't add up, a city and guilds level 3 is just a qualification it should not effect him doing a level 3 apprenticeship.

I have apprentices working for me who already hold multiple level 3 City & guilds qualifications but are still working towards a level 3 apprenticeship (electrical engineering)

squizz11

Lomast said:

Something doesn't add up, a city and guilds level 3 is just a qualification it should not effect him doing a level 3 apprenticeship.

I have apprentices working for me who already hold multiple level 3 City & guilds qualifications but are still working towards a level 3 apprenticeship (electrical engineering)

It's in the criteria apparently,  TFL are the same,  your not meant to have studied anything level 3,  even if you failed it.    It makes no sense to me, or him. the city and guilds level 3 is a basic prep course,  it would stand you in good stead for this sort of career.

He worked so hard in GCSEs to get good marks , did his Duke of edinborough and got distinction in college,  all to be told sorry you studied just a bit too hard.

Savvy_Sue

squizz11 said:

Lomast said:

Something doesn't add up, a city and guilds level 3 is just a qualification it should not effect him doing a level 3 apprenticeship.

I have apprentices working for me who already hold multiple level 3 City & guilds qualifications but are still working towards a level 3 apprenticeship (electrical engineering)

It's in the criteria apparently,  TFL are the same,  your not meant to have studied anything level 3,  even if you failed it.    It makes no sense to me, or him. the city and guilds level 3 is a basic prep course,  it would stand you in good stead for this sort of career.

He worked so hard in GCSEs to get good marks , did his Duke of edinborough and got distinction in college,  all to be told sorry you studied just a bit too hard.

And it may be a funding issue: I was forever being sent details of qualifications which colleagues could study for, BUT the courses were only free for those with no qualifications above a particular level - which I think the government were paying for. 

I think you've had some good suggestions above for other possible routes into his chosen field of work, and he could also contact the National Careers Office about where he could try next. 

EnPointe

squizz11 said:

My son is 18 and has wanted to go into railway engineering since he was a child,  he has a very keen interest in railways in general.

He applied for network rail, did really well in the first section but got turned down as he did a city and guilds level 3 in engineering, which we have now found out disqualifies him for any level 3 roles.

If he leaves this off for other level 3 roles is there any way they can find out plus we have to try and come up with what he has been doing since leaving college, instead of the course.

His college told him this was the right  course so naturally he's gutted as he got great gcse results and distinction in his course.   He is currently working in an engineering firm as a labourer, but the railways is his dream job.

So your son all ready has completed a ful level 3  qualification in an Engineering   topic. 

Not Delcaring exam results / qualifications all ready held is fraudulent  and  poses a serious probity and Integrity  issue , to the point that  most employers would dismiss and in any  regualted Occupation  striking off / Barring  is the normal outcome . 

 He has a level 3 qualification in the  field therefore he is not eligible for a Level2 or level 3 apprenticeship in that field and should be looking  to apply for a  normal job  where Level 3 is  a required / desired  qualification or looking at  level 5/6/Degree  apprenticeships.

while the apprenticeship levy  era has made getting apprenticeships easier you  cannot access  qualifications  which  you arll ready hold an  equivalent of  i.e. same Field and NQF level 

EnPointe

Savvy_Sue said:

squizz11 said:

Lomast said:

Something doesn't add up, a city and guilds level 3 is just a qualification it should not effect him doing a level 3 apprenticeship.

I have apprentices working for me who already hold multiple level 3 City & guilds qualifications but are still working towards a level 3 apprenticeship (electrical engineering)

It's in the criteria apparently,  TFL are the same,  your not meant to have studied anything level 3,  even if you failed it.    It makes no sense to me, or him. the city and guilds level 3 is a basic prep course,  it would stand you in good stead for this sort of career.

He worked so hard in GCSEs to get good marks , did his Duke of edinborough and got distinction in college,  all to be told sorry you studied just a bit too hard.

And it may be a funding issue: I was forever being sent details of qualifications which colleagues could study for, BUT the courses were only free for those with no qualifications above a particular level - which I think the government were paying for. 

I think you've had some good suggestions above for other possible routes into his chosen field of work, and he could also contact the National Careers Office about where he could try next. 

the Apprenticeship Levy era has changed that somewhat ,   in that  funding is now much more  available  if you  don;t hold   a qualification at  that level  in that field , where   before  it was any qualification at  that NQF level regardless of the subject that cut off the funding for level 2  and 3