*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 clerical support to the On train team. The successful candidate will require good interpersonal and communication skills, as this role will require you to deal with staff on a one-to-one basis as well as liaising with the whole of the On train (Guards) function. 

Apprenticeship Standard: Level 3

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Production of regular reports 
• Dealing with internal and external customers 
• Ordering of supplies 
• Minute taking as required along with general administrative duties. 

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

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 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

Your assigned Professional Coach will deliver training sessions, in person or online, 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. 

Modules include:  

Knowledge | The organisation | Customers & stakeholders | Relevant regulation | Policies & processes | Business fundamentals | External environment factors Skills | Information Technology | Record and document production | Decision making | Communication & interpersonal skills | Quality | Planning and organisation skills | Project management Behaviours | Professionalism | Personal qualities | Managing performance | Adaptability | Responsibility

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