APPRENTICES
Shauni followed the route of all London Underground
Operational Apprentices, studying modules in customer service, signalling, controlling, train driving and station managing. ‘My fi rst station announcement was hilarious – even the station staff and customers were laughing because I sounded so happy,’ explains Shauni. ‘You’re not really meant to sound that happy when you’re telling people about delays on the Metropolitan line. I tried sounding more sombre for the next announcement and went too far the other way,’ says Shauni, putting on her best funereal voice to demonstrate. As part of their career development, all London
Underground employees have the chance to complete online qualifi cations in their own time in addition to the City & Guilds level 2 qualifi cations that they study for. Shauni’s ruthlessly competitive edge crops up again. ‘They’re optional units, but I knew I wanted them on my CV,’ she says. ‘I’ve done 100 of them so far – that’s over 400 hours of own-time learning, not including other optional modules. I work my backside off, but I thrive on doing well.’
THE GOOD LIFE DUTY CALLS
A 5am phone call informs Shauni where she needs to be that day
Shauni’s enthusiasm for the job is underpinned by a meticulous technical knowledge of her surroundings. Her apprenticeship included practical modules on train driving and learning to safely fi x malfunctioning points – hands-on skills as crucial to her job as skills in supervising staff. ‘I feel like my apprenticeship has given me an advantage because I’ve got such a rounded view of how the company works,’ says Shauni. ‘I can see situations from everyone’s point of view as a result of working in most operational areas.’ Shauni’s success has buoyed her ambition to reach the
very top of TfL, as well as helping fulfi l the step-by-step plans she has for the rest of her life. ‘I want to be able to stand on my own two feet regardless of my situation, and earning a good salary at a young age is incredible. If I went to university like many of my friends, I’d already be in lots of debt, and I’ll get the chance to have a degree paid for later in my career anyway. I feel I’ve already got the life of a 30-year-old – it’s a very happy life.’ As the end of today’s shift draws near, Shauni refl ects
on how it feels to be an 18-year-old with responsibility for an entire station. ‘When people meet me they don’t expect me to have the qualifi cations or skills that I have,’ she says. ‘I never have any problems with respect from colleagues, but sometimes customers are surprised when they ask to see the supervisor and I walk out of the offi ce to chat. It doesn’t bother me. I’m very driven and that’s something everyone’s recognised – I just want to get to the top.’
TOP 100 APPRENTICESHIP EMPLOYERS Admiral Scaffolding Group • Anglia Support Partnership • Atlas Computer Systems • B3 Media • Babcock International Group • BAE Systems • Balfour Beatty • BAM Nuttall • Barceló Hotels UK • Barratt Developments • Becton, Dickinson and Company • Bentley Motors • Berthon • Bishopsteignton Primary School • Blue Baboon Design • Bluefi n Insurance Services • Brighton Temptation • BT • Caterpillar Peterlee • Chris Lewis Fire & Security • Clarkson Evans • Cooper & Taylor Hair & Beauty • D W Bathrooms and Ceramics • DAF Trucks • Damovo UK • Derwentside Homes • DeVere Hotels & Leisure • Doncaster Council • Doran Scott Williams & Co • EDF Energy • Finning UK • Fish and Chips at 149 • Foran & Blake Hair and Beauty • Ford UK • Gelder Group • GEN II • Greater London Authority Group • Hedon Salads
www.cityandguilds.com/broadsheet BROADSHEET 178 | WINTER | 27
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