Apprenticeships Scheme at Royal Mail

[SJH101]

Hi

I've been working at Royal Mail for a few years now, and recently came across an article about the NVQ you can get through Royal Mail Apprenticeship Scheme. I found this article in a recent copy of the Courier Magazine and have decided to give it a bash. I feel its a great opportunity to work my way up in the business and find out more about it. So far all I know about it is very little. I have asked my boss about it and he said he would keep his eyes peeled if anything came up.

If anybody has been involved in this or knows anything about it, it would be greatly appreciated if you could give me your thoughts on what to expect, and what its all about basically. I realise there will probably be too much information about it to write on here but even if its links or numbers to even ring up myself to find out more. Any info about this would be greatly appreciated.

Also how often do these things come around and are they open to anybody within the business. I am a 26 year old male.

Thanks

[POSTMAN]

Welcome,will move this to Blue Shirts.

[NewPostieUK]

I have asked my boss about it and he said he would keep his eyes peeled if anything came up.

You believe that??

[resperin]

i dont think anyone here knows much about the apprenticeship scheme but tbf; it's possible not many people have done it

the questions i need to aquire answers are probably similar to what you have in mind? http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... enticeship" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lew1275]

Hi there!

I started the RM Advanced Apprenticeship a few months ago. On completion it leaves you with an NVQ level 3 in Management and Management Technical Certificate as well as Key Skills (Should you not have studied GCSE's or A-Levels). The aim is to train you up to a suitable level to then go on and apply for first line management jobs.

I applied after seeing a large poster in our DO and did it all online, passed selection and interview (which included having to give a 10 min oral presentation) and now have to be working on my own project (Gawd know's what I can do! Sure there are enough problems out there to be worked on ). I will have to also sit several more tests/exams (whatever you wanna call them!) and 2 more oral presentations in order to achieve the NVQ. I've so far had to sit through 3 days worth of courses at Gatwick and Maidstone. (Get's you out of doing deliveries for a day! They are usually run by a 3rd party teaching organization)

I'll keep you posted on how it goes and if anything comes up. Best bet is to look on RM's own internal recruitment site. There are two types of apprenticeships they offer. One being the Advanced and the other being the 'Core' - Which leaves you with just an NQV Level 2 Qualification. I'm afraid I don't know if they are running any at the moment though. Most likely in the new year.

Hope this helps!

Lewis

[resperin]

sounds harder than i envisioned; specially as i'd be poor on oral presentations - way to nervous talking in front of lots of people. can i ask what the presentations suposed to be done on

thanks for the post aswell!

[Big Daz]

It will be 2 or 3 senior managers from your region/area you do the presentation to and its why you want to progress and what have you done to help yourself achive that.

[resperin]

Thanks Daz, that doesnt sound as bad as seems same as applying for any position in RM; HR + Manager + possibly the company running the training program

i'm assuming you remain at the delivery office of origin, as you only attend a few days at the training. would you need a car to travel to the venue? or would the costs be recuperated.

still dont know whether to apply for it, as i'll have more questions to ask when i have more time to think about it.

[Big Daz]

A previous DSM who once covered my D.O mangers who has now moved up a bit to cover a wider geographical area was at the local MC a few months ago along with a talent and learning adviser doing interviews for the scheme.


I think RM have got this all wrong, they shoul be putting all new managers through this training rather than OPG's who may or may not apply for a 1st level manger job and have no guarnteee of a job at the end of the scheme. Looking at the ILM website theIr courses seem to be something that exisiting D.O managers could do with. I doubt many are anyhwere near ILM standard

http://www.i-l-m.com/default.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[benkneale03]

im on the advanced apprenticeship aswel. the first one or two presentations is a nightmare for people like me haha but after a few days on the day/s courses you see the same faces and get to know each other and also most of the people running the course (The people you are doing the presentation to) which makes it a lot easier and comfortable. I seen the course available on my messages section in my payslip. They run the course in a cycle where it finishes the same time as they open most of the manager/deputy posts so they are filled mainly by the graduates from the course. Our course finishes bang on the new year so i expect they will be starting the next batch not long after.

[lew1275]

Yeah a car would prove very very useful. I've had to use mine as one of the course days was over 60 miles away. RM will reimburse you for your travel costs (.40p a mile).

And don't worry. I was and still am not a fan of these presentations. Unfortunately it's something we are asked to do so we just have to lump it! I'm much more comfortable with written work. As mentioned above, i've not given mine in front of more than 2 people. (Both of whom were my course coaches so I knew them...makes it easier!)