Daniel Robert Dawson
Lytham St Annes
Summary
Proactive Train Driver & Regional Trainer/Assessor with 16 years of operational experience, including 10+ years driving On-Track Machines (OTM). Passionate about developing and delivering high-quality driver and operational training that drives compliance, safety, and performance excellence. Skilled in competency management, fostering a positive culture, and empowering teams to reach their full potential. Highly organised, IT-literate, and an effective communicator, with a strong commitment to continuous professional development. Requested to expand operational expertise through data download and Signal Sighting training to further enhance safety and operational leadership
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
LNW Regional Trainer / Assessor
Colas Rail
01.2023 - Current
- Experienced railway professional responsible for managing and delivering competence, training, and assessment for plant operators, OTM drivers, and artisans across the LNW region.
- Managed regional competency systems, ensuring compliance with rail industry and Health & Safety standards.
- Coordinated training, assessment, and re-certification programmes for plant and maintenance staff.
- Maintained and monitored the staff competency database, supporting workforce planning and audit readiness.
- Delivered technical, operational, and safety training; conducted workplace assessments.
- Developed and improved training materials, assessment documentation, and driver training programmes.
- Led trainer/assessor standardisation meetings to ensure consistency and quality assurance.
- Supported safety investigations and contributed to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensured full compliance with company procedures and industry regulations.
Driver/ Fitter/ Operator
Colas Rail
11.2022 - 01.2023
- Carrying out Lead operator duties including taking the responsibility for the ALC and completing the DWR, communicating with the customer to complete the required work, reporting any incidents or concerns to operations control room
- Ensure all operating & maintenance work is undertaken in line with relevant procedures and in accordance with current specifications
- Responsible for ensuring that maintenance and routine servicing and safety checks are undertaken and recorded
- Drive on track machines in accordance with industry and company standards.
- Ensure all work is carried out safely and in accordance with relevant rules, regulations, standards and work instructions.
- Carry out fault finding, rectification of faults and reporting of faults to the relevant company standards
- Attend various committees and meetings including all aspects of health and safety and National Company Council meetings.
- Competing the compulsory safety and booking on/off protocols on a daily basis
Driver/ Fitter/ Operator
Volker Rail
05.2009 - 04.2011
- Driver/ Fitter/ Operator – Tuped from Volker Rail to Colas Rail in the same job role, Matisa competency
Electrician/ Site Foreman
George Morrison
04.2002 - 03.2003
- Carrying out all aspects of electrical work, domestic, commercial and industrial in a safe and methodical manner
- Work distribution and organisation of all trades on site.
- Ensuring the site is safe and complies to all H&S standards
- Ensuring all work is completed to the highest of standards, to meet the government contracted specification
- Communicating real time updates and forecasts to both contracts managers and the clients
Gym Manager/Duty Centre Manager
Vida Health & Fitness Centre
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Responsibilities included team management and development in a high profile fast paced fitness club environment; organisation of timetables, football fixtures and external class instructors. Total accountability for H&S and security. Liaison with external companies and clients as well as profit management and responsibility for audit results.
Gym Instructor/Qualified Personal Trainer
- Development of my own systems and strategies using my organisational and analytical skills to improve the business. Fitness programme development, lifestyle consultancy and inductions. Monitor, maintain and take responsibility for telesales targets.
Education
High School - G.C.S.Es
Montgomery High School
Bispham, Blackpool06.1997
A-Level - Information Technology, Physical Education
Blackpool Sixth Form
Blackpool05.2000
Skills
- Qualified train driver
- Industry compliance management
- Competency Management
- Competency assessment
- Continuous improvement
- Team building
- Quality assurance
- Self-supervision
- Organisational skills
- Adaptability
- Strong IT literacy
- Positive attitude
- Effective communication
- Risk assessment
- Lead operator
- SOW
- Team safety
- Reporting issues
- Providing reports
- Fitter role competencies
- Operating competences of Unimat and Compact Plasser machines
- Technical knowledge of pneumatic and hydraulic systems
- Maintaining complex systems
Certification
C&G NVQ Level 3 Assessor Course
C&G NVQ Level 3 Train the Trainer 3
C&G Internal Verifier
Accident and Investigation (Unite the Union)
Accident Investigation (Colas Rail)
Train Operations Liaison Officer
Qualified European Train Driver
NVQ Level 3 Workplace Representative
NVQ Level 3 Health and Safety Representative
Learner Representative
Car Driving License (No Points)
NVQ Level 3 Electrotechnical systems (Electrian)
Specific Experience
- Railway operational experience over 16 years with PTS
- Qualified train driver for over 10 years
- Conducting Regional Standardisation meetings
- Responds to SPADs and incidents on call
- Conducted Risk Assessments
- All Competences relating to the Fitter, operator and driver roles
- Operating competences of Unimat and Compact Plasser Machines, including ALC
- Electrical competence
- Technical knowledge and experience of maintaining complex systems such as Mechanical, Pneumatic and Hydraulic
- Excellent self-supervision and organisational skills, adaptable and able to adapt in difficult situations
- Workshop and Health and Safety representative
- Strong IT literacy and ability to adapt to new systems
- Expertise in PowerPoint presentations
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
References
Available upon request
Timeline
LNW Regional Trainer / Assessor
Colas Rail
01.2023 - Current
Driver/ Fitter/ Operator
Colas Rail
11.2022 - 01.2023
Driver/ Fitter/ Operator
Volker Rail
05.2009 - 04.2011
Electrician/ Site Foreman
George Morrison
04.2002 - 03.2003
Gym Manager/Duty Centre Manager
Vida Health & Fitness Centre
01.2000 - 01.2002
Gym Instructor/Qualified Personal Trainer
High School - G.C.S.Es
Montgomery High School
A-Level - Information Technology, Physical Education
Blackpool Sixth Form