I started as a Colas Rail Graduate in September 2011. I was inducted into the company and received initial training within the first few weeks with Colas; including personal track safety (PTS), legal & commercial and health and safety at work. With initial training completed I then moved into my rotational placements within the Colas Rail Graduate Scheme. This consisted of 4, 6 month placements:
- AmeyColas High Output Plant - Working as an Assistant High Output Plant Planning and Resource Manager, gaining working knowledge of the railway and the High Output track systems along with intricate knowledge of man management, fatigue management and roster planning.
- Colas Rail - Rail Services - Working as a Management Assistant, responsible for process improvement alongside gaining valuable experience of on track plant and strategic plant.
- Colas Rail - Projects - Working as an Assistant Construction Manager, responsible for enabling works on a major freight enhancement project along with Duty Manager shifts and day-to-day project management tasks.
- Colas Rail - Engineering - Working as an Assistant Project Manager, responsible for reporting and day-to-day management of multidisciplinary design work and project interfaces for a major freight enhancement project. This sat alongside minor Project Engineer and Project Controls duties within the same division across a multitude of other projects, multi and single discipline.
Colas Rail has supported my development throughout all of my rotations, from proposing courses suitable to my current role, to training to increase my overall management skills and my drive towards ICE Chartership.
Throughout my time within the Colas Rail Graduate Scheme I attended a number of highly relevant and beneficial courses, organised both through divisions and through central Colas Rail training. Training included the following:
- CDM Introductory Certificate
- MAD Training
- CITB Site Safety Management Training Scheme (5 Day)
- Lift Planning
- Task Brief & Work Package Plan training
- Developing Personal Impact course
- APM Introductory Certificate
- AmeyColas Works Managers Certificate (initial trial run)
- Accident Investigation training
Having completed the 2 year Graduate Scheme I have transitioned into a full time role as a Project Manager working within the AmeyColas joint venture, responsible for managing the delivery of a large scale track remodelling programme on the West Coast Mainline. Taking up this position would not be possible without the experience afforded to me by the Colas Rail Graduate Scheme and the support provided along the way.
