Reg Cook

Said the following about George Dickson:

“Building on a career in training with the RAF, since joining telent, George has set up the Maintenance Apprenticeship Program and developed our Health and Safety training. He also oversees all technical training.

Apprenticeship Program

George set up the telent rail maintenance apprenticeship program in 2006 and, for the first 6 years, undertook a significant proportion of the teaching himself. As he developed the scheme, a move became necessary and George oversaw the move to PROCAT in Basildon.

The apprenticeship scheme has been a huge success. A number of ex-apprentices have moved into senior operational, management and technical roles and has been a major driver in our ongoing success

Health and Safety Training

Working with head of health and safety, George has developed a structured, modular approach to health and safety training. This now includes a Safety Induction, providing a toolkit of standard skills and knowledge, along with more specific training in manual handling, working at heights, risk assessment etc. George has also developed a pass or fail Site Person in Charge course for all staff in charge of a work site.

Technical Training

George oversees all technical training for the maintenance operation and the IRSE licensing scheme and often delivers training to external organisations. He also provides Train the Trainer sessions to enable and equip system engineers and duty managers to deliver highly technical courses.

Lasting Influence

Nominating George, Reg Cook, Director - Asset Management said “When you listen to recipients of George’s training input, it is clear his influence continues long after the completion of courses and apprenticeships. His clear, direct style provides a unique transition from school to the workplace, while his input as a mentor extends beyond apprenticeships to transition to full time roles.”

Ben Armstrong, Head of Operations Rail, explains, “I started my apprenticeship at telent following a college course with only a small amount of work experience behind me. George was instrumental throughout the transition from education to work. He arranged for work experience within multiple areas of the business to give us a well-rounded view of how the company operates. During the time working for George we spent time working in the Service Centre receiving faults, working on both Corrective and Planned maintenance maintaining assets on LUL, working with the Projects department installing communications equipment and finally working with the Contract Management team liaising with customers over contractual issues. Our three year apprenticeship covered block release at a college located 100 miles away from home as well as working both day and night shift patterns. George always supported me through challenges in both work and home life. The experiences I encountered during my apprenticeship have served me well in my career and I have seen the same support given to the apprentices that have followed in the past 10 years.”

Danny Murray, Contract Services Manager, shares Ben’s opinion. “George was my first manager at telent when starting 11 years ago as an apprentice. I started at telent fresh out of college with no experience working in this industry. George was a massive influence in preparing me and the other apprentices for the working world. As was the first group of Apprentices this was also a learning experience for George as he had to develop the apprentice program - and he has been running the scheme successfully since. George established a series of deployments throughout the business to allow us to get an understanding of how everything works in the industry, from being out in the field to what occurs in the office. As apprentices we were often left with the not so glamorous jobs and George always led by example - even if that meant sweeping the leaves in the yard!“