*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

As Recruitment Administrator Apprentice, you will be working as part of a dynamic and enthusiastic team to support the business in the selection and onboarding of all new entrants. You will be juggling multiple tasks and managing your own time effectively to ensure the highest standards of customer service are given to everyone you encounter. You will be managing a high volume of calls and emails whilst proactively welcoming people into our offices.

Apprenticeship Standard: Level 2

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Smooth onboarding of new entrants 
• Processing all paperwork, liaising as required and updating relevant systems and documents.   
• You will act as a ‘first contact' for internal and external queries by email, telephone and in person. 
• Compile new entrant and transfer lists, liaising with the training team on a regular basis. 
• Liaise with new employees regarding key aspects of their onboarding. 
• Process all paperwork and tasks associated with probations including obtaining all relevant references and DBS checks. 
• Lead on managing the Recruitment inbox by monitoring and responding to emails from a range of internal and external customers and escalating where required. 
• Update internal systems with relevant information. 
• Assist with assessment and interview record deletions at the appropriate times. 
• Provide support to the Recruitment team with making calls to candidates regarding interviews and assessment attendance when required. 
• Assist the Recruitment team with right to work checks for candidates that attend assessments and interviews. 
• Assist with the preparation of rooms and resources for assessment centres and with the smooth running of the day. 
• Perform ad-hoc or project related tasks as and when required by the Recruitment team. 
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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. 
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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

During the programme, you will attend masterclasses which will enable you to gain knowledge and skills required. As a part of the programme, you will be required to complete various assignments which will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the subject and will form part of your portfolio.  

Modules include:   

• Knowledge - Candidate attraction & selection | Legal, regulatory & ethical requirements | Key performance indicators in the workplace | Recruitment techniques and processes | Market rates and conditions | Initiating, building & maintaining candidate relationships | Research principles | Recruitment industry and recruitment models | Employee rights & responsibilities | equality & diversity.  
• Skills - Researching and matching candidates to requirement | Write, place and update adverts | Monitoring responses and applications | Shortlisting | Candidate relationship management and support | Progressing leads and new business | Client feedback management | Database management.  
  Behaviours - Self-motivation | Tenacity & resilience | Ambition, drive & determination | Ability to prioritise and escalate | Innovate | Attention to detail | Ethical customer focused approach | Organisational skills | Excellent questioning & listening skills. 

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/