A day in the life: Demari Waugh, Morson Canning Town TfL rail team
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Demari Waugh works as an administrator in Morson’s Operation Support Team, working with Transport for London (TfL) on the London Underground.
How did you come to work with Morson?
I joined in 2019. I had completed a pre-apprenticeship Network Rail Level 2 NVQ diploma in Track Maintenance and once I passed that course, I decided on joining Morson as they were taking on apprentices. Unfortunately, I failed the medical due to my epilepsy.
Did you know you had epilepsy before having the medical?
Yes, I knew beforehand. The HSE Manager at the time, who oversaw apprentices, spoke with Kelly Chambers the Operations Support Team Manager to give me the opportunity to work in the office as they were looking for staff at the time.
What did you do for work before?
Before Morson I had no experience of the rail industry or office work. I had been playing football and working for Fed Ex in a warehouse. I had never even considered office work before; it wasn’t on my radar. I always thought I would have a hands-on job.
You successfully completed an office apprenticeship. What did you learn, and was there anything you found difficult?
When I was first offered the opportunity to work in Morson’s Canning Town office, I wasn’t too sure, as I wasn’t sure I had the ability of the experience. I joined the Business Apprenticeship four months into the course due to credits I had gained on my Level 2 rail course. It helped in understanding procedures, but for my line of work, Kelly Chambers and Grant Evans, Training Coordinator, were my main sources of support. They showed me how to complete and manage the workload.
The Morson team at Canning Town as a collective helped me to gain confidence and pushed me to learn more. I didn’t even realise there was a correct way to answer a phone! Everyone in the team would help me even if they were busy.
What does a normal day at work look like for you?
There’s never a normal day working in the Operations Support Team, every day something new comes up. I could be scheduling training for LUL operatives such as Basic Track Awareness, Protecting Workers on the Track Engineering or Traffic hours, Possession Master etc. I could also be planning NWR/LUL medicals or carrying out D&A testing. I contact operatives by telephone, call, email, or text, so they’re aware of their individual appointments. I also register new operatives & ensure all systems are up to update with personal details and all required rail certifications.
Would you recommend the recruitment or rail industry for young people looking for a career?
Yes, there are lots of different opportunities to progress in different roles and there’s always something new to learn. I would certainly recommend this as a long-term career.
Is there a fun fact about you that you could share?
I used to be a semi-professional footballer for Charlton Athletic.
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