It is with great pleasure that we at Betaris received another jovial testimony from a previous learner. Glenn has recently finished our Railway Track Maintenance Course, and had this to say about the experience…
I attended the NVQ Level 2, City & Guilds in Railway Track Maintenance and the PTS course. I sought out this course because I knew the rail industry was my chosen second career path.
The course provided me with the knowledge, training, and education I needed to progress in the industry, and I am now employed by Network Rail as a Level 2 Signaller.
Before taking the course, I had unsuccessfully applied to Network Rail on three occasions over several years. However, after completing the course and obtaining my Sentinel Card and PTS Qualification, I applied for two roles with Network Rail, received offers for both, and chose the Signaller role as it best aligned with my background and experience.
The course was challenging, especially as I had not been in an educational setting for over 36 years. However, the instructor delivered the material in a clear and accessible way. He went above and beyond, offering support and assistance to those who needed extra help, even outside of regular hours.
At the time, I was receiving Universal Credit. After discussing the course with my Job Coach and explaining how it could lead to full-time employment, I received financial support for travel and stationery costs. This assistance made it easier to focus on completing the course.
The course is free for participants and leads to full-time employment opportunities soon after completion. The PTS qualification and Sentinel Card alone make the course invaluable. It thoroughly covers all aspects of track-side work, safety-critical requirements, and railway operations.
The pandemic had a significant impact on my previous career, which led to personal challenges and a loss of self-esteem. The course was a turning point for me. It restored my confidence, gave me a sense of purpose, and helped me feel capable again. My partner noticed the positive changes in me, and I began to feel proud of myself for the first time in years.
The course is intensive at first, especially with the railway’s unique terminology, but the structure and delivery make the material easy to understand from the beginning. It qualifies participants to work on the railway in various roles, whether as track operatives or in other safety-critical positions, and strengthens applications for jobs within the railway industry.
I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the course, particularly to the instructor, Charlie, whose leadership and support had a profound impact on my life. He played a key role in helping me turn things around, and I owe him a heartfelt thank you.
Taking this course was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It opened doors to new opportunities and helped me regain my confidence and direction. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to build a career in the rail industry.
