Rail Engineering Apprenticeship Offers Career Progression for Caolam

Starting out on one pathway doesn’t mean you have to continue if you want to change.   For Caolam Donnelly, a change in family circumstances motivated a change in direction and a focus on career progression.

Caolam (20), from Belfast had completed a sports qualification after his GCSEs but decided to change direction.   Caolam said, “I was keen to do something that would offer steady employment and get my career off to a good start, with opportunities for progression, following the birth of my daughter, Cleígha, who is now two years old.  

“I knew someone who had worked for On Track Technicians (OTT), and I had heard good reports about them as an employer.  So I applied and successfully secured a Level 2 Rail Engineering Apprenticeship with them and am completing the qualification with South Eastern Regional College (SERC).  OTT has been great in supporting me with a work life balance.

Caolam continued, “The tutors for the apprenticeship are great as they have years of railway engineering experience, so they are very knowledgeable.   We are in SERC’s Downpatrick Campus for one whole week each month, which is a bit different from other apprenticeships where you would be in one day each week.   I prefer being in for the full week, as we focus on a whole unit of theory from Monday to Thursday and then Friday is for catching up on anything you missed or need to go over, with additional support if you need it.

Speaking about his change of career path, Caolam said, “I am still into my sports, and I don’t regret changing pathway.   I think all students should hear more about different pathways they can take so they can make informed decisions when it comes to progression.

He concluded, “I am enjoying the work - I am particularly interested in the engineering side, and I would like to specialise in that area as I progress. The work on site is hard graft and it is all about teamwork so it is important you can happily work as part of a team to get the job done.”

SERC is hosting Information and Apprenticeships - Have a Go Sessions during NI Apprenticeship Week, 4.30 – 7.00pm on Thursday 6 February at Downpatrick and Lisburn Campuses.