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

As an apprentice, you will work alongside experienced engineers, learning from their expertise while contributing to critical maintenance and repair tasks across our network. Based at one of our Train Care Depots, we will provide the foundation upon which you can build a great career in the rail industry.

Apprenticeship Standard: Maintenance and Engineering Operations Technician (MOET) LEVEL 3 

Your main responsibilities will be:

• You will assist with routine maintenance activities, including; Inspections, repairs, and component replacements. 
• Diagnose faults and perform troubleshooting to identify and rectify issues efficiently. 
• Support the installation and testing of new equipment and systems. 
• Follow safety protocols and procedures to ensure a safe working environment. 
• Collaborate with team members to achieve operational objectives. 
• Deliver high-quality service to our customers. 

You'll need:

• To be an enthusiastic and motivated individual.
• 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 or be predicted:

• GCSE Maths grade 5+ 
• GCSE English grade 4+
• GCSE Science grade 4+ 

About the location

Bournemouth Depot is home to a number of South Western Railway's fleet. The engineering team at the depot are currently responsible for numerous projects such as the major component overhaul work on the 159 fleet, the Desiro repaint on the class 444's and 450's and the latest modification project on our exciting new Arterio fleet that is set to transform travel on our suburban routes by offering customers much faster and more reliable journeys!

Working pattern

Working an average of 37 hours per week including a variety of shifts and weekend working

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

You will attend SETA (Southampton Engineering Training Association) where you will gain the Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Standard. 

Year 1 

• Learn foundation and specialisation skills at SETA in an initial 40-week block. 
• Gain a Level 3 BTEC in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. 
• Practical training towards the Level 3 MOET apprenticeship standard.

Years 2 & 3 

• Attend SETA for one day per week Level 3 BTEC in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering. 
• Complete a bespoke company training programme of practical work-based experience in Train Care Depots. 

Year 4 

• Practical work-place experience in Depot following standard shift-patterns. 
• Gain experience of specific rolling stock and continue building technical and practical knowledge. 

At the end of the four-year apprenticeship, you will be required to complete a final interview to demonstrate your knowledge and competency to secure a permanent role within Depot. 

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/