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 South West, 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: 

The Internal Communications team is dedicated to delivering clear, timely and concise messages across all areas of Great Western Railway. As a diverse team, we are committed to upholding the highest standards when sharing the GWR story, ensuring that vital information is communicated accurately and in an engaging way.

Recently, we started an exciting journey to reimagine how we create and deliver our communications, with the goal of achieving the highest standards and increasing colleague engagement across the business.

 About the job: 

In this role, you will be responsible for conceptualising, creating and delivering communications across a range of channels to all colleagues at Great Western Railway. As part of a supportive and collaborative team, flexibility in location and occasional out-of-hours work will be required.

Your main objective will be to authentically represent life at GWR and deliver essential messages to colleagues in the right way, at the right time.

As a creative thinker, you will produce highly engaging content that helps to develop our communications into being a ‘must-see' part of the business.

You will need to write with clarity and precision, ensuring that complex information is communicated simply and effectively. Your responsibilities will also include delivering content across channels including written, audio and video.

Your main responsibilities will be: 

• Crafting accurate, well-written copy for various communication channels, adhering to GWR's corporate tone and using strong English language skills.
• Contributing to and delivering the Editorial Plan, collaborating closely with the Senior Internal Communications Manager to ensure smooth and timely execution.
• Conceptualisation, filming and editing of video content, in line with the requirements of the Editorial Plan.
• Managing the internal colleague magazine, overseeing and delivering content creation, liaising with suppliers, reviewing copy, and maintaining high editorial standards.
• Serving as a ‘Business Partner' to specific business areas, acting as the main point of contact for their communication needs and feeding these requirements into the Editorial Plan.
• Creating graphic design and image editing materials for both print and digital communications.
• Providing technical support at key events and conferences.
• Assisting with the delivery of live-streamed content, including colleague and manager calls and operating media equipment such as cameras, microphones, and mixing gear.
• Supporting the execution of internal communications campaigns as required by the Senior Internal Communications Manager.
• Acting as a brand ambassador and guardian, ensuring the GWR brand is consistently represented accurately and appropriately.
• Managing multiple tight deadlines to ensure timely delivery of the Editorial Plan.

  You'll need to be:

• A team player – comfortable working towards a shared goal while also taking initiative on your own.
• Audience-focused – dedicated to ensuring our communications engage and resonate with colleagues.
• Willing to immerse yourself in GWR's operational areas – whether on platforms, in depots, or on trains – to ensure frontline perspectives are accurately represented in our communications.
• A people person – confident in facilitating discussions and building relationships, producing great communications that are built on strong interactions.
• Calm under pressure – able to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines, especially when circumstances change quickly.
• Committed to excellence – driven to produce broadcast-quality content for an audience of thousands, to ensure high-quality, accurate communications that build trust with the audience.

What do I need?

• Experience of working in a multi-media environment, including the production of articles in print and video.
•  Experience of using the Adobe Creative Suite – specifically Premier, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
•  Good audience-focused copywriting and proof-reading skills.
•  The ability to capture good quality video/film and edit into concise and engaging updates for our colleagues.
•  An understanding of our diverse audience – GWR's colleagues are spread across our network geographically, are from a wide range of backgrounds and undertake a plethora of different roles.
•  An understanding of the rail industry and GWR's operations would be advantageous.

 About the location:

The location for the role is flexible, with regular travel across the network expected – including to Swindon and London.

 Working pattern:

You will be contracted to work 37 hours per week, with some flexibility around the location and specific hours worked.

 The Reward:

As well as a great team environment and comprehensive training, all GWR colleagues enjoy a range of benefits including on-going development, defined benefit pension scheme, free rail travel across the GWR network for you and your family, company-sponsored health care plan, discounted shopping and gym membership and an employee assistance programme.

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/