*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

This role assists with all aspects of payroll within our large company, providing a vital service to all internal stakeholders in ensuring that their pay is correctly calculated and paid and that the company adheres to all relevant processes and legislation.  

While working in the Payroll team, you will be putting into practice the knowledge, skills and behaviours that underpin your apprenticeship learning experience and to develop an understanding of key aspects, processes, and controls in Pensions and Payroll.

Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3 

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Accurate Data Entry processing.
• Process Starters and Leavers and check for accuracy.
• Timesheet entry and auditing checks
• Introduction to understanding contracts of employment.
• Introduction to grades, allowances, manual pay calculations etc
• Introduction to PAYE and understanding HMRC legislation.
• Learn skills to provide excellent customer service to employees.
• Learn to resolve queries and respond through email, telephone and by letter.
• Supporting other areas of the business with administration tasks 

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:

• GCSE grade 4 or above in English and maths 

About the location

Overline House is conveniently situated overlooking Southampton Central Station and is easily accessible by public transport. The station is very local to West Quay, a hub for retailers and restaurants, and provides an excellent link between London, Coastal areas and the Isle of Wight.

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 employee
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependant)
• 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

To support your development within the role, you will undertake the Level 3 Payroll Administrator apprenticeship standard, this learning will provide you with the underpinning knowledge and skills to be successful. You will be assigned a Professional Coach, who will deliver training sessions, supporting you 1:1 to gain new knowledge and skills 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. 

 Modules overviews include:  

• Project Environments – understanding the project context and requirements.  
• Management – managing people, process and cost.  
• Project Delivery – monitoring and reviewing successful delivery.  
   

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/