Meet Jack Nicholson

Why did you decide to do a telecoms apprenticeship?
I felt that a university degree wasn’t for me. I tried A Levels, but I really struggled because there wasn’t any practical elements, so I went to college and completed a Mechatronics Extended Diploma.

Prior to VolkerRail, I was working as a bike mechanic and wanted a new challenge. Coming from a mechanical engineering background, I wanted to do something involving engineering, and VolkerRail was recommended to me by my neighbour, who works in isolations for the company. I applied for the apprenticeship after I saw the job advert online.

I also have friends who work on the railway, and I spoke to them to find out more about the career paths available, and to gain an insight into the industry, such as shift patterns and the amount of travel involved. One works in telecoms for Openreach, and said that rail is a growing industry; you’re always doing something different, and you’re rarely in the office.

How have you found the role so far?
I’ve really enjoyed the experience so far, particularly being out on site at Biggleswade, and working on the Northampton to Rugby West Coast Transmission Renewals project. I enjoy the travelling because I get to see different places.

I’ve also enjoyed being out at Sowerby Bridge at night, running tests on the signal post telephones. It’s very important to test the signals are working properly, so that sites can be safely handed back to Network Rail.

My confidence has developed, and I feel comfortable being more vocal and getting involved in discussions. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the different disciplines and working in a team. We have a great team in York.

What does your role involve?
As well as testing, I also get involved in the installation of fibre cables, which allows me to see the procedure prior to the testing phase. I have learnt how the fibres are joined by a splicer to complete a loop or transmission, and I’ve watched the process from start to finish.

Part of my role also involves installing telephones on track, and testing they are operational before handing back to the client.

What advice would you give to someone considering taking up an apprenticeship?
Definitely do it if it’s something that interests you. For me, it doesn’t really feel like work when it’s something you enjoy doing. It’s also a great way to learn whilst earning a living.

Has joining the rail industry been an adjustment or were you well prepared?
The transition into the rail industry was easy because I'm used to working with people as a team, and playing a part in the work.

Compared to working on bikes, it is a bit different, as there’s office-based elements to my current role, as well as learning a constantly evolving discipline. Working on bikes was also very repetitive, which is not something that applies to this job. I’m always working on different tasks and completing training to develop my skills.

What do you look forward to each day?
I like being in the office with my team as it’s a good environment to be in, and when we are out on track, it's a change of scenery because everywhere is different. I also enjoy working with the installation and testing teams out on site, and seeing the different aspects of their roles.

There are various teams that come in at different times in the project to complete their works, depending on what stage it is at. Telecoms and signalling are closely linked, as they work hand in hand, due to some signalling circuits being provisioned over telecoms networks.

What are your next steps?
I’m working on filling out my Institution of Railway Signal Engineers logbook, and gaining the relevant competencies to work on the railway. This experience will help me to decide which area of telecoms I want to specialise in, such as testing, design, or installation .

As part of my apprenticeship, I have assessments every month, and I have recently completed my health and safety, and maths assessments. My next assessment will be in electronic and electrical principles.