Working For Crewit Resourcing- On Site With Selous Nicolle

Working For Crewit Resourcing- On Site With Selous Nicolle

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When you think of part-time work during University, you probably picture bartending, retail or handing out leaflets for the student nightclub!

Student Selous Nicolle is different, choosing to spend his working time on the railway.

Students working as a labourer in rail construction could potentially earn 2x more than the national minimum wage.

He studies property development at Oxford Brookes University. Working in rail construction ties in nicely his interest in construction and after he graduates, is looking to develop a career in the industry. We caught up with Selous to ask him about his experience in balancing both worlds.

Selous Nicolle Headshot

What were you doing before you found Crewit Resourcing?

Before starting at Crewit Resourcing I was at school, unsure of what I wanted to progress into following my studies.

How did you come across us?

I came across Crewit Resourcing through one of the employees working there; Grant Oliver who is a fellow South African, and he mentioned how he supported himself whilst at university through working on the rail. Following from his lead I started looking at options for doing the same and got my PTS which allowed me to start on the rail thanks to Crewit Resourcing being my sponsor.

What made you choose us?

I chose Crewit Resourcing as they created the opportunity for me and supported me through my progression and training on the rail.

What was your role when you began your journey?

I first started working as a labourer but worked my way up picking up new skills along the ways, such as small tools and electrical track maintenance. This allowed me to take on more challenging jobs on the railway, and has led me to work with a range of companies with Crewit Resourcing and opened up my options in the Construction industry.

How have we exceeded your expectations while working with us?

Crewit Resourcing has far exceeded my expectations in terms of training and growth in the industry. It has also instilled in me a hard work ethic and has developed my skills through teamwork and good leadership. The fellow workers have been fantastic in passing on skills and teaching me a range of new knowledge and overall have helped me to pursue my interest in construction and development.

Would you recommend us to other university students looking for work?

I would recommend, and have already recommended Crewit Resourcing to university students looking for work, a few of which are particularly interested in starting on the rail. It is a fantastic opportunity for students as most of the work is over holiday periods and weekends and can give you invaluable experience in the construction industry for when they come out of university. As well as developing a range of skills applicable to further careers.

I enjoy working for Crewit Resourcing and hope to continue my progression on the railway and construction industry.

If you’re a university student looking to work in rail, quick register with us and we’ll be in touch.

What is a Sentinel Card and do I need one

What is a Sentinel Card and do I need one?

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The Sentinel Card is a passport scheme issued by Network Rail. It’s in place to ensure the safety and quality of works carried out on the UK’s rail infrastructure.

The Sentinel passport scheme has is in place to host a real-time database of people working in rail. It tracks when and where people work, what competencies and training they have, and which companies are sponsoring them. It also tracks medicals and drug and alcohol tests to ensure people working on rail are fit to do so.

What is a Sentinel Card?

With improper safety protocols, the railway can be a hazardous place to work. There are 1000’s of people working on the UK rail infrastructure every day. Located in various locations across the nation, Network Rail has to keep track of where they are to manage their safety. That’s why they decided to upgrade the passport scheme to the Sentinel system.

Everybody that steps foot on an active rail construction site requires a Sentinel Card and be a member of the Sentinel scheme.

This allows Network Rail to track what competencies they have, what training they have, whether they have a valid Drugs and Alcohol test and which companies are sponsoring the individuals. A big factor in health and safety is worker fatigue. The Sentinel system means that sponsors, site leaders, and Network Rail can monitor workers’ rest to ensure that workers are alert.

When workers report to site, they must sign in by scanning their Sentinel Card. If they do not have their Sentinel Card on them, they will not be able to work. By utilising smartphone technology, site leaders can scan Sentinel Cards to check-in workers and check data. This saves them having to carry paperwork with them to site.

There are two qualifications required when applying for a Sentinel Card. Applicants will need either a Personal Track Safety (PTS), if working trackside or an Industry Common Induction (ICI), if working non-trackside.

Once they have one of these, they can apply for a Sentinel Card through their sponsor. By requiring a basic qualification, it means that every person that works on the railway has the basic knowledge of the railway.

Why get a Sentinel Card?

Being part of the Sentinel Card safety scheme means access to work on the railway system in the UK. This opens a new industry for to work in. After receiving a card, there is a range of extra qualifications someone can work towards and begin to earn a larger salary.

How do you get a Sentinel Card?

To start working in rail, and get a Sentinel Card, the first step is finding an employer or recruitment agency willing to be your primary sponsor. They will need to put you through a PTS or ICI qualification with a licensed training provider. They will then apply to sign you up or the Sentinel scheme, which can be found online here.

Only sponsors can purchase a card, it is not open to the general public.

If the application is successful, Sentinel Cards will arrive within 10 days. They must then be scanned when you arrive and exit the site.

Are you part of the scheme? Quick register now to let us know you’re available.

Working in Railway Construction- 2020 Salary Guide

Working in Rail Construction- 2020 Salary Guide

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The Rail & Transport industry is so vast in size that, to provide valuable insight into each role, we’ve decided to focus on one area. In this article, we’ll cover railway construction. This sub-sector encompasses the planning, building, and development of the rail infrastructure.

As we enter a decade of large rail projects, including Cross Rail and High Speed 2, there isn’t a better time to train to work in railway construction. Large investment can mean more work and more work results in more jobs created. Consistent work isn’t everything in this industry though. Whether you already work in the industry or are debating entering, salary is also likely to be a factor.

We’ve created an overview of popular rail construction roles and they’re average salary. Use this to benchmark how the project you’re working on is rewarding you.

Rail Construction PTS Labourer- Average Salary

The common entry point for an unskilled worker in the rail industry. Once you have your PTS (Personal Track Safety) card, you can begin to work on the rail. As a PTS Labourer, you can learn the basics required for working on site.

PTS Labourer Average Advertised Salary: £13.00ph Distribution: £11.00-15.00ph

Rail PTS Ground Worker- Average Salary

Ground working is a more skilled role than labouring.

PTS Ground Worker Average Advertised Salary: £15.22ph Distribution: £14.50-£16.00ph

Rail COSS- Controller of Site Safety- Average Salary

A Controller of Site Safety is someone that holds a COSS qualification issued by Network Rail. This qualifies them to supervise safety on or near a rail construction site. The qualification needs an investment of £500 ex vat, but in return, COSS roles can return better salaries.

COSS Average Advertised Salary: £16.74ph Distribution: £14.00-£19.20ph

Rail Site/ Section Engineer- Average Salary

Requiring a relevant degree in Civil Engineering, the site engineer is responsible for the quality, implementation and engineering management of the project. Junior engineers can earn around £25,000pa, whereas senior engineers carrying out contract work can earn over £300pd.

Site Engineer Average Advertised Salary: £37,000.00 Distribution: £32,500-£39,000pa

Rail Construction Average Salaries

The data from this research shows the variation and distribution of salaries is vast. A variety of factors impact salaries, including: geographical location, size of project and resource demand. Every project is different, and sometimes the guarantee of longer-term work is more of a priority.

View our latest railway construction jobs here.

*The data referenced in this article was collected on 17/12/19 from various available sources including job boards. Each average salary was calculated from at least 5 job advertisements with advertised salaries. Datapoints were spread around the UK, with at least 3 regions included in every average salary.

6 Skills You Should Always Use In A Job Interview

6 Skills You Should Always Use At A Job Interview

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Applying for a new job? Taking that next step in your career? Your interpersonal skills are usually just as important as your technical abilities.

Showing off a higher emotional intelligence can assure employers that you can fit into any working environment and enable you to stand out from the other candidates more effectively than the contents of your CV.

Here is a summary of 6 of the most useful interpersonal skills you need to use whenever you attend a job interview:

1. Always Be Positive

An upbeat attitude is infectious and will make you a pleasure to be around. A dynamic office environment depends on positive morale. Showing you can naturally bring this mindset to work every morning could make the crucial difference between you and an equally matched but sullen candidate.

2. Be Receptive

Being open to feedback and a willingness to listen can help you develop both personally and professionally. But to take feedback on board, you must first listen to it and then respond sensibly and enthusiastically. You don’t even need to think about your response; just listening to what is being said and maintaining a positive body language would be enough for most consultants and managers to positively judge your character.

3. Display Self Confidence

Showing self-confidence to an employer will immediately improve the way they perceive you and your ability to complete the job a client has set out. Your ideas and opinions will be taken more seriously and will add or ratify credence to your skills shown on your CV. It also establishes that you should be able to deal with challenging situations quickly and effectively. But always remember that you should never confuse self-confidence with arrogance!

4. Show Flexibility

The world of work is evolving at a faster rate than ever, and employers are actively looking for people who can show initiative and a willingness to adapt. Everyone loves a candidate who is keen to work with the team/company and learn new techniques and technologies etc.

5. Relationship Management

Building effective business relationships is one thing but managing them is something entirely different. Whether you are at a junior or management level at every company you will be expected to manage interpersonal relationships with colleagues and clients alike to some extent or another. From you first interview and throughout your career this is an important skill.

6. Body Language

Remember when we connect with a person, we also have to make it clear to each other how the content of a spoken message needs to be interpreted. but sometimes we are unable to deliver our messages by spoken or even written languages so we use the body language to supplement what we want to say by gesturing, moving or even giving some facial expressions. At an interview people will not just be listening to what you say but also observing how you act. Before attending an interview pay extra attention to posture, eye contact, smiles and any ‘annoying’ habits that you have (i.e. playing with your pen or hair etc).

Good luck!

5 Reasons To Work In Rail

5 Reasons Why It’s A Good Time To Be Working In Rail

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1. Strong demand = Job Security

Today the rail sector contributes £7bn a year to the UK economy while employing more than 85,000 people. Every single day, millions of people across the UK catch a train and for many of these individuals being able to do so ​is vital to the way they live their lives. As rail remains so important to the entire country, demand for skilled staff to work in the sector will be high for the foreseeable future, which is good news for anyone hoping to find a job in the industry.

2. Large Scale Investment = more jobs & job security

With the number of passengers doubling over the past 20 years and the government still keen to reduce pollution and harmful emissions. Use and investment in the rail industry is going only one way  UP and in 2017 the government announced that £48 billion will be invested spent on the network over the next five years. Including more maintenance and a huge uplift in renewals to increase reliability and punctuality for passengers.

3. This is not just a London focused industry = more jobs closer to home

Across the UK there is over 2,500 stations and 32,000 kilometres of track stretching from Thurso to Penzance – this is a UK wide industry. With plenty of ongoing maintenance/upgrade work and billions being spent on the new large scale projects outside of the London/Home Counties area including HS2, HS3, Trans Pennine route upgrade and the Trafford Park Metro which means there are plenty of employment opportunities for people across the UK.

4. A wide range of  opportunities   = plenty of choice

Types of jobs include PTS Operatives, Plant Operators, Electrical Engineers, Estimators, Civil Engineers, Planners, HV Staff, Crane Operators, Telecom Engineers, Document Controllers, Ground workers (PTS), Quantity Surveyors, Scaffolders, Health and Safety Managers, Site Agents, Cable Pullers, Site Managers, Design Engineers, CAD Operators, Administrators and Land Surveyors to name a few.

5. And Finally . . . Crewit Resourcing (Building Quality Teams)

Crewit Resourcing has a proven track record supplying highly experienced and skilled rail staff in the UK and around the world. As part of our offering we continually train our operatives to understand what targeted outcome needs to be achieved on each shift for every client. As always in Rail, safety is our first and foremost concern and we are proud to say we have an excellent record for safety management, and have never had a major incident.

CV Advice

CV Advice

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Everyone has an opinion on what makes a good CV but there are a few guidelines that everyone should stick to. Your single most important marketing tool is your CV.

It is important, therefore, that it lists your best-selling points relevant to the job you are applying for, and be short and concise. It is highly likely that your CV will be one of many, possibly hundreds, so recruiters or consultants might just scan through it, possibly giving it only 30 seconds. Make yours stand out by being well presented and clearly structured, always starting with the most relevant recent information.

Emphasise your skills

The perfect CV should direct the reader’s focus to the skills that qualify you for the role, and what differentiates you from any other applicant. For every job application you apply for you will need a new CV. Always highlighting your skills that are relevant to the role keeping content both honest and accurate.

Your CV is likely to form the framework for the interview so expect to be asked questions on the content. For that reason, it is extremely important that you feel comfortable with it and know it inside and out.

Structure and content

Start with the most relevant information. It is crucial that you think carefully about what they are looking for and as you add the content always think about how closely you can match it. Extremely important that all spelling, grammar and punctuation is correct.

Your professional experience is more relevant, so put this ahead of your academic details. And once you’ve given a brief description of each job/work experience use bullet points to highlight your role and responsibilities. This helps to keep everything clear and to the point.

Design & Presentation

You can find a wide range CV templates free online. The basic rule to always bear in mind is substance before style. Better to be simple and to the point than distracting and hard to read.

Layout:

1st Personal Details (Top of the Page): Name, Location, Contact Details, Work Permit (if relevant). No need to include date of birth, nationality or gender.

2nd Your Profile: This is your opportunity to sell yourself. If they like what they read here they will spend more time on your CV. Talk about your strengths and experience always keeping in mind what they are looking for and include how this role is your next step in your journey. This should be no more than 3 to 4 lines.

3rd Work Experience/Responsibilities: Talk about your experience and responsibilities around what they are looking for. Detail them in short, bullet-pointed statements. If possible back everything up with quantifiable facts, such as size of budgets and teams managed and results achieved. If you don’t know maybe google can help.

4th Education and Qualifications: If you attended college or university and would like to shout from the roof tops about how well you did then I recommend you do. If education wasn’t your strong point don’t worry. It’s not for all of us. You don’t have to include it if it’s not relevant to the role.

5th Extra-Curricular Activities: Employers love to see what candidate’s interests are. Sometimes having something in common with the employer can be a game changer, so give a brief description about your interest and passions.

6th References: Always have a few people lined up to give a good strong reference for you. No need to add it to your CV, simply state “references on available request”.

Best of Luck with the job hunting ?