Rail Mentoring Programme

Coach

Your Coach is there to coach you and help your development, as well as to act as your line manager and contact for issues such as holiday and sickness.

Your Coach will support your growth and development personally, and within the workplace, through a structured coaching process. You will meet your Coach monthly.

Their key responsibilities are:

  • Help the trainee to focus and set goals for both work and personal development.
  • Review the progress of the trainee within the business, placements and any development they may have undertaken.
  • Plan, structure and review placements to optimise learning. Ensure meetings with Placement Managers are set up at the beginning and end of each placement and that interim reviews are carried out.
  • Identify opportunities within the business for trainees to be involved in such as project work.
  • Plan and arrange for trainees to take part in corporate social responsibility activities within the region.
  • Support the development of skills in relation to the placement.
  • Help identify and overcome barriers through discussion and review.
  • Challenge the individual to think through issues and solutions.
  • Recognise and celebrate success.

Mentor

Your Mentor is a senior manager from your company who does not have any direct line management responsibilities for you, but who will help you to optimise your potential within the context of a supportive relationship. They offer support, advice and draw on their knowledge and experience. You will meet your mentor every three months.

Their key responsibilities are outlined below:

  • Undertake a general review of the trainee's progress in respect of culture fit, high points and challenges.
  • Review how the coaching process has worked and what progress has been made.
  • Provide guidance and insight on specific issues, difficulties and challenges where appropriate.
  • Talk about career progression and offer guidance and networking.
  • Recognise and celebrate success.

Buddy

Your Buddy is a former Management Trainee. The relationship will be informal and it is up to you and the Buddy to establish how you would like the relationship to work. The Buddy will provide guidance on the training scheme and will act as an informal aide to answer questions and queries.

Placement Manager

For each of the five core placements you will be allocated a Placement Manager. This will be a senior manager within the placement area that will oversee the three-month placement. You will meet the Placement Manager and Coach at the beginning of the placement to ensure that you understand the objectives and how the placement will run. You will have an interim review with the Placement Manager to check that objectives are being completed and to discuss any successes and challenges. The placement will end with a final review with you, your Coach and the Placement Manager.

Managing Director

You will meet with your Managing Director every six months. This will be an informal meeting for you to communicate the knowledge and skills you have acquired over the placements.

Managing Director - UK Rail

You will deliver a presentation to the MD UK Rail approximately one year after starting the training scheme. The focus of the presentation will be for you and the other trainees to show the MD what you have been working on and for the MD to suggest ways this can be incorporated into the First business. This presentation will be followed by a 'graduation' upon successful completion of the core training scheme.