Who are we?

GWR is the proud custodian of Brunel's railway - one of the most prestigious networks in the world.  We have some of the newest trains in the country and exciting plans to extend our services.   With more than one hundred million passenger journeys each year, we carry people to over 275 stations in the Southwest, from Cornwall and South Wales to London, passing through beautiful country and some of the UK's top tourist destinations. 

We are transforming the way people think about train travel, empowering our team of over 6,000 people from all different backgrounds to make it a great experience for our customers.  Together, we will revalue rail as a very special way to travel – relaxing, fast, efficient, friendly and fun.

About the team:

Working as part of a dedicated and hardworking team who are responsible for the presentation of the GWR fleet. Ensuring the interior and exterior of our contracted trains are cleaned to a high standard to deliver comfort and a great experience for our customers.

About the job:

You will be working alongside four Team Leaders and a team of approximately 40 colleagues across two shifts, delivering the cleaning and presentation of GWR trains to the high standards expected by our customers every day.

The role operates on a 4-on, 4-off shift pattern, with shifts running from 19:30 to 05:20 (9.83 hours), averaging 35 hours per week.

As part of the role, you will be required to work weekends and bank holidays as part of your rostered duties. The only exceptions are Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when no attendance is required.

You will receive a very competitive salary and 28 days Annual Leave.  

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Plan, organise and coordinate all cleaning activities throughout the shift to ensure operational requirements are met.
• Lead, motivate and support the cleaning team, creating a positive and engaged working environment.
• Monitor team performance and attendance, providing coaching, feedback and development opportunities to help individuals reach their full potential.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, management, traincrew and depot stakeholders.
• Ensure cleaning standards are consistently achieved and delivered to the highest levels for our customers.
• Carry out quality inspections and audits, taking corrective action where standards fall below expectations.
• Promote and maintain a strong safety culture, ensuring all work activities are completed in accordance with company policies, procedures and industry standards.
• Create and maintain safe working conditions, identifying and reporting hazards, incidents and near misses.
• Ensure the correct use of cleaning equipment, vehicles, chemicals and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Support the delivery of staff briefings, toolbox talks and operational communications.
• Assist to develop team competencies through training, mentoring and on-the-job coaching.
• Actively participate in continuous improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and operational flexibility.
• Manage staffing resources effectively, including allocation of duties, absences and responding to changing operational demands.
• Maintain accurate records and complete all required documentation in line with company requirements.
• Act as a role model for company values, behaviours and professional standards at all times.

Who we are looking for:

• Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing teams to achieve high standards of performance.
• Ability to work on your own initiative, make effective decisions and prioritise workload in a fast-paced operational environment.

• Committed to delivering exceptional cleaning and presentation standards for our customers.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to coordinate resources and manage competing priorities.
• Able to complete tasks safely, accurately and in accordance with company procedures, specifications and GWR standards.
• Enthusiastic, proactive and adaptable, with a positive approach to problem-solving.
• Effective communicator, capable of building strong working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Willing and able to train, coach and mentor colleagues to enhance team capability and performance.
• Committed to maintaining accurate records and ensuring all documentation is completed in a timely manner.
• A strong advocate for health, safety and wellbeing, promoting a positive safety culture and leading by example.
• Flexible and resilient, with the ability to respond to changing operational demands while maintaining high standards

As a minimum, you'll need to have:

• A good understanding of COSHH regulations and Health & Safety requirements within the workplace.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Sirenum (or similar workforce management systems).
• A commitment to continuous learning and self-development, with a desire to develop and support others.
• A full, current UK driving licence.
• Previous experience within a cleaning, facilities, presentation or support services environment.
• The ability to exchange information effectively, solve problems and contribute to decision-making.
• The ability to create and maintain safe working conditions and promote a positive safety culture.
• Experience of working to procedures, standards and performance targets.
• A proactive approach to identifying and implementing process improvements.
• The ability to adapt to changing operational requirements while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

Desirable:

• NVQ Level 1 or 2 in Cleaning and Support Services, or willingness to work towards achieving the qualification.
• NVQ Level 3 in Team Leading, Management, Cleaning and Support Services, or willingness to work towards achieving the qualification.
• Previous experience of supervising or leading teams in an operational environment.
• Experience of training, coaching or mentoring colleagues.

Additional Information:

• If there is more than one successful applicant a reserve list will be created to fill roles which may arise within the next 6 months which may be of an alternative shift type.
• The ability to live within a maximum of 60 minutes travelling time to the depot you apply for. (This means able to travel to work within 60 minutes for both your own travel and using public transport, which is not negotiable)

We all belong at GWR. This is our vision for providing an inclusive environment for all our colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment. 

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA, ethnicity, religion and disability. We maintain zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/