It would be interesting to hear/read your opinion of the BT Course itself, with you having apparently been on it recently.

I am due to start training in mid March although I haven't been told where.... although I am sure I stumbled across the location in the paperwork somewhere, not that I can find it now I have looked through all of it again. Yarn field does ring a bell!

Are there any tips or things you would advise on taking? Is there a gym or time to even do so or any good places to run outside? I'm not a fitness fantatic but I can't be cooped up for very long in a classroom.

I was also informed climbing the poles would cripple most people as they are using muscles they haven't used in a long while... is this true haha!


Can anyone also tell me how long it takes to be in a position to learn more? Do more training? Specialise? What options are there? If you train more do you earn more?

Lots of questions I know. Thanks everyone! Jenny

Good questions - I hope that someone does you the courtesy of coming forth with answers from recent experience, as I'm sure several others will be interested in the answers.

Unfortunately now being at the other end of the age spectrum, i am not in a position to do so.

There is a little gym on site and Yarnfield is in the middle of nowhere so you could go for long runs!

As for the poles, no I never found that. I've never found any part of me gets sore, and I'm not particularly fit either, though I'm not unfit.

You'll have been taken on using the new pay band, so initially they'll have you doing basic work, installing lines rather than repairing them. Over the first 3 years they will want to try and train you up to repair faults, and to do broadband and underground work. However to do a lot of that you'd need to move onto a higher pay band, and apparently that's all in discussion with the union at the moment.

The only thing I would add about yarnfield is the food is very hit and miss and you may possibly get moved elsewhere to train I got moved to cardiff to train which ain't a bad thing as some of the trainers at yarnfield suffer from power overload from people I've spoke to who trained there . First few weeks is spent learning health and safety but stick with it. I would buy snacks for your room as poster above said it's in the middle of nowhere . I would also take a tablet or console to help pass the time

Thanks for that info, very useful.

As mentioned before, don't know where I am training. Anyone recall where it says in all of the online documents as I can't find it!

I am in South East so I was told it could be Croydon, Southampton.... Yarn field is a long way away from home for me!

You will find out on your first day they call you into the room in groups of where you are training

A tale from the days of National Service, back in 1957.

On the second day at RAF Cardington (Bedford) a Wednesday, a Corporal called us together to sort out Travelling Expenses.

He first told all those who lived South of Newcastle on Tyne to disappear, No Expenses!

Some of those pointed out that to get to Cardington, they had to first travel North to Newcastle, to catch the longer-distance train/s. Still No Expenses!

The next group was the conventional group, taking up to two days - Expenses.

This left one Solitary Recruit - "When did you start your journey?" - "Monday, Corporal".

"But that's two days or less!" - " No, I meant the previous Monday, Nine Days travelling!!"

"Where did you come from, Timbuctoo?"

"No Corporal. It was from The Skerries, the once-a-week boat to Whalsay. Then I had to wait two days just missing the boat to the mainland."

"So you got on a train down to Cardington?"

"No Corporal. That was the Shetland Mainland, with yet another day waiting for the ship to Aberdeen, that voyage was 18 hours. Followed by another wait of some hours for a train to Edinburgh, where there was another wait for the night and only train to Kettering, where I had to change to the local train for Bedford!"
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Interesting times!

Edited by deleted (Sun 27-Dec-15 19:06:48)

In all likelihood it will be Yarnfield, it's by far the biggest training centre.

Good suggestion to get food and drink for your room, I always did that. Especially as once you get your van you'll want to use it to get to Yarnfield instead of your own car as then you don't need to worry about claiming back the cost of the fuel etc. However once you're there in your OR van you're effectively stuck there, I've never risked using the van at night in Yarnfield as they'll accuse you of using it outside of work time which is a disciplinary offence.

Personally, I always quite liked the food there. It felt like good, honest home cooked style food to me! If you're into burgers and chips then it's probably not for you!

"you don't need to worry about claiming back the cost of the fuel etc."

So you can take your own car and get back the cost of fuel ? Is so why would anyone take a OR van up there ? Got to be better to have your own car up there !