Erica Davis: Performance Improvement Manager (North West Route), Network Rail

Erica Davis is excelling in her career after completing a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Passenger Transport Operations Management through CIRO

Erica Davis is excelling in her current role as a Performance Improvement Manager (North West Route) for Network Rail. Her success follows completion of several professional qualifications, with dedicated support from CIRO, in partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University.

Erica added: “I have studied alongside a full-time role which has been challenging but extremely rewarding at the same time.”

“The apprenticeship has provided me with an invaluable skillset that I’m now able to implement as a valued and productive member of the performance team.

“Since starting the programme, my confidence has grown and my professional competencies have significantly developed, enabling me to help the business meet its future challenges.”

Through assignments and teaching, CIRO provided Erica with a detailed insight into aspects of the rail industry that she wouldn’t have had chance to experience otherwise. Erica continued: “I now possess a wholistic view of the rail industry and it’s allowed me to better understand how to implement the Whole System Performance Model in Performance Improvement.”

After graduating from the University of Cambridge in June 2019, Erica Davis applied for the General Management Graduate Scheme at Network Rail and began in the September. Erica said: “The scheme was twelve months long and allowed me to gain a good understanding of the business, by working in different placements.”

Erica spent four months in her first position which was based in Milton Keynes. She worked with a Research and Development Project Management team working on ‘Shift 2 Rail’.
This was a research project designed to establish the most sustainable, efficient, high-performing, competitive, customer-focussed transport mode for Europe.

Erica said: “Our team concentrated on cost-efficiency and worked on the development of an App that would allow the user to plan their route via taxi, bus, trains and planes across the continent. It gave me my first insight into the wider rail industry.”

Following this, Erica moved back to her hometown of Manchester, where she began a role in Operational Management, focussing on signalling. It was in Preston, Salford and York that she completed a thirteen-week course at signalling school, developing her Absolute Block Signalling and Track Circuit Block Signalling skills.

Erica commented: “This training allowed me to work for six months in a Grade 3, Absolute Block Signal Box. It was completely different than anything I had done before and was overall a good experience as it built up my confidence.

“Being left to my own devices and dealing with incidents independently was a challenge. However, I feel as though it’s equipped me with essential skills that I can take forward in my career.”
Now, Erica is enjoying her permanent role as a Performance Improvement Manager for the North West Route at Network Rail. The job requires a variety of responsibilities, something that Erica enjoys the most about her position.

Erica said: “A large part of this role involves building and maintaining strong and positive relationships with our colleagues from other parts of the rail industry.

“Day to day, I work towards the development, delivery and implementation of strategic performance improvement initiatives, including PIMS, the Performance Improvement Management System.
I also write and implement strategy and process documents, undertake assurance reviews of current performance management processes and plan and implement RM3P (Risk Management Maturity Model for Performance) Assessments.

CIRO’s tutors work closely with Apprentices, helping them to evaluate their experience and the expertise they’ve gained. Erica said: “I’m very thankful for my tutor, Annette Shipley, who gave invaluable support and guidance during the early stages of my career.”

We encourage our learners to develop relationships with likeminded professionals across the wider rail industry. This builds a strong network of support that they can draw from in their careers.
Erica now has the capability to ensure that she gets the most out of every learning experience and opportunity that presents itself. She said: “It’s also very reassuring to know that I have the support of CIRO available to me as I progress further in my career.”

Hoping to have a long lasting and fulfilling career with Network Rail and aspiring for greater responsibility in the future, Erica said: “To come home every day, knowing that I’ve helped Network Rail to achieve its ideology of putting passengers first, is especially satisfying for me.

“I plan to further develop my wholistic understanding of the rail industry through rich and varied experiences.”

The Performance Improvement Manager intends to learn as much as she possibly can and complete further professional qualifications to progress her career.

An Apprenticeship with CIRO provides a unique opportunity for our Apprentices to create their own professional network and form progressive career pathways.

Are you ready to incorporate the knowledge, skills and behaviours required and defined for today’s industry? An apprenticeship is an ideal way to continue your rail operations career, combining study with ‘real time’ on-the-job training.

If you are interested, please click here to view our Apprenticeships.

Alternatively contact us: apprentice@railwayoperators.co.uk