I think my problem is that i know someone who works as an engineer and he told me there is spaces a fair few actually and that was only a day before my assessment.

Your right it really does make no commitment at all and I have a feeling the update will be we are not recruiting right now. Honestly so down about it, I thought this was the start to a new career and I was so excited. Little scared to even look at my email any more!

Strange, I am in Highlands (Scotland) you are down Manchester, so it's like its a generic email that gets sent maybe? I'm just not to sure any more!

Its a bit brutal I must say! Keep thinking positively though! They're taking on 1300 people so I imagine that's a lot of admin work(a lot of it you have to do yourself) so that could explain why its all so slow.

Yeah, your right actually. But it would be much more professional if they gave some dates to work with (and not cancel them as in my case). Even if they said it will take 'X' amount of months, least it gives people something to work with. In this day of modern technology, it dosnt take a great deal of effort to attach a few forms to the emails they send out just to give you some direction as to how the recruitment process will go, rather than this piecemeal approach they seem to be taking?

I'm now going to go and sit in the Lotus Position in a darkend room, place a cold towel over my head and commence chanting 'every little 'ting' gonna be alright' ......

Edited by deleted (Thu 14-Apr-16 14:43:10)

I'm about to head off to start training and they have told me to bring a spare holdall for all my kit that will be issued and uniform. How much kit/uniform am I going to be issued and do i need a massive suitcase or a small holdall as there is only so much i can carry on a train to Yarnfield?!

I am actually starting to get nervous now... only really about the driving assessment funnily enough! I have driven vans for years but any tests involving driving make me fall apart as i hate being scrutinised. I know having had lots of training in the police service and out, I am a really good driver but parallel parking goes out the window especially if in a new vehicle you are not used to, even though i can do it with my eyes shut normally.

Oh well, can only do what I can do. Best brush up on the highway code, you think you know it and all the metres and distances etc can catch you out!

I have absolutely no idea what training consists of... diving into the complete unknown and I hear its pretty full on?

I got the same email that you got back in December saying they would update me in January.
I got another email in Jan saying they were still not ready and to wait til end of Feb. The final email in Feb offered me the job and I've now signed my contracts done all my checks and recieved an email last week saying everything is done and I'm ready to start. I start training in a few weeks.

So I wouldn't take the email too badly. I genuinely think they will get back to you with a place. Even if it takes months. They won't keep doing assessment days for your area if they have people who have passed waiting in the wings.

How much kit/uniform am I going to be issued and do i need a massive suitcase or a small holdall

I'd go for the largest option you have, better safe than sorry. Even if it's just uniform that'll be a couple of pairs of trousers, tops, a coat, , overalls, work boots, a hi-vi gloves, a hard hat .....

I doubt you'll get a climbing belt yet, but if you do that's a big ol' lump an all.

Don't fret it on the driving front, many who start will have never driven anything bigger than their Mum's Nissan Micra

Your post made me think back to my starting ..... I won't say I've been on a while, but were (seriously) issued with filo-faxes which contained loads of info about how to approach various jobs !

As above, I wouldn't worry about the 'driving test'
I've done a similar type of test with a delivery company and all it consisted of was going where the 'instructor' told you on a 15 minute drive and I did a reverse park into a bay (he even got out and watched me back)
It's basically just to see if you can actually drive a van with no rear window and something that's larger than a car etc... If they think you're capable then hay presto! If you're an absolute fruit bat mounting every curb and hitting stuff then I think they'll probably put you through a few lessons (correct me if I'm wrong anybody, surely they wouldn't straight up tell you to go home and not come back?)

My usual mode of transport is a VW golf, a fair bit smaller than your average OR van.

Hi all! Good news... I passed assessment and start training next month.

Filo fax wow I haven't used one of those in years. I imagine you joined way back when haha!

Ok best not kerb the van on the test then I am actually really looking forward to training but its probably because I don't know what hell I am in for. To be honest it can't be worse than police school and all the marching around. Can it?!

Well done to those who have passed and my fingers are crossed for those who are unsure of their fate at this time. Surely if they passed you and all went well you will be kept on file first in line for a space?

Jenny

Edited by deleted (Fri 15-Apr-16 00:54:09)

Well done waggo!

What date do you start next month? And is it yarnfield you're going to?