Graduate Engineer
Nafisah Aslam-Zainudeen - Graduate Engineer
I spent the first 18 months on the Graduate Training Programme with First TransPennine Express on the intensive ATOC Professional Engineer Development Scheme which is accredited by the IMechE.
Through this training programme, I have had the opportunity to gain a good understanding of the railway industry, as a whole, as my training has not been restricted to purely engineering functions - I have gained experience in aspects ranging from the hands-on maintenance of trains, management of maintenance processes, activities and people, project engineering and improving the reliability of our fleet to driver management, maintaining driver competence, ensuring we deliver great service to our customers and an understanding of how our finances are managed in order to make us a profitable business. My progress on the scheme is monitored by a mentor who is appointed by ATOC; he also provides guidance to ensure I develop the right competencies to become a Chartered Engineer.
I am now in my second year of a part-time MSc in Maintenance Engineering and Asset Management at the University of Manchester, which is sponsored by First Group to support me in achieving the qualifications required to become a Chartered Engineer.
Upon completion of my mandatory training, I was offered the unique opportunity to gain some experience on the Thameslink Programme with First Capital Connect - this is currently one of the largest and most complex projects to procure a fleet of new trains with state of the art technology. My training has proved invaluable in the work I've done thus far and I am now about to start work on a more permanent basis in the capacity of Risk Coordinator on the New Trains Project.