*Please note, you must be between the ages of 16 - 18 at the commencement of employment to be considered for this young talent apprenticeship*

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to improve quality of life, by bringing people together to get the most out of life.

SWR is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier.  FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport. 

The South Western Railway Apprenticeship programme has officially achieved the Silver standard from Investors in People for 'We Invest in Apprentices' 

About the job

We require an enthusiastic and organised individual to provide analytical support to the Driver team. You will be liaising with different teams in order to obtain, sort and analyse data as well as producing reports. 

The successful candidate will require good interpersonal and communication skills, as well as an interest in and aptitude in the use of data as a tool to inform decision making in order to drive improvement. 

Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Analyse, manipulate and interpret data produced through various systems. 
• Identify key trends and areas of focussed action to drive improvements. 
• Produce clear reports and presentations for various internal and external stakeholders and management teams on a weekly, monthly and ad-hoc basis.  
• Provide analytical support to the Driver function to focus action on areas that would most effectively and efficiently improve future performance.

You'll need:

• A desire to pursue a career in the railway industry.
• Flexibility – this apprenticeship may involve early or late shifts and travel to other areas on our network.
• Excellent communication, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team.
• Proactive and adaptable approach to problem-solving, with a keen eye for detail.
• Willingness to undergo training and development to enhance skills and knowledge in the role.
• A dedication to upholding the company's values and delivering exceptional service to customers 

As a minimum, you will need to have:

• GCSE grade 4 or above in English and maths 

About the location

Wimbledon Train Station is ideally situated near several sporting locations and a local theatre. It provides an excellent link between National Rail services, the Underground service and Tramlink. With 11 platforms, it is a busy station that supports the travel of many commuters and leisure customers to and from central London.

London Waterloo train station, situated in the heart of the UK's capital, opened in 1848 and is currently Britain's largest and busiest station. Within walking distance of Waterloo is the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, BFI IMAX, the South Bank and The Old Vic theatre, as well as great connections to all London attractions. It is easily accessible by public transport and is home to a large mix of national brands and restaurants.

Working pattern

Working an average of 37 hours per week over 5 days

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Large range of exclusive retail offers
• Excellent pension scheme

Additional Information

The programme aims at developing skilled data analysts and you will be fully supported and mentored through your apprenticeship and be given protected time to complete your course work. Your assigned Professional Coach will deliver training sessions, supporting you 1:1 to gain new knowledge, skills and behaviours required for successful completion of your apprenticeship. You will complete various assessments which will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the subject and form part of your portfolio. At the start of the programme your Professional Coach will work with you to create an Individual Learning Plan outlining the work that you will need to complete to evidence your learning. 

We all belong at SWR. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, 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 a 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, for example, 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/