BUSINESS FUNCTION: Operations

GRADE: Driver

SALARY: £22,634 per annum during training (approx. 12 months) rising to £43,198 in Year 1, £47,413 in Year 2 and £54,500 in Year 3.

ROLE TYPE: On Site

HOURS: Rolling 35 per week

Are you ready to make the journey of a Train Driver ‘Your Thing’?

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our Trainee Train Driver Apprenticeship, where you’ll receive immersive training and hands-on experience to become a fully qualified Train Driver.

Connecting millions of people and communities across the North is our mission. With 2,500 trains a day, we connect people to jobs, friends, family, and the wonders of the North.    

We're improving rail travel, enhancing the experience on board and at stations. Customers are at the heart of our business as we improve performance and create a better way to go.    

We're driving economic value and sustainable growth for the North and its people. Our commitment to the environment means reducing our impact and enhancing the world around us.    

Make a difference. Make it last. Make it easy. Make it happen. These are our values.    

Ready to make them yours? Join us on this journey.

About the role:

As a Trainee Train Driver, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Trains to transport customers safely and efficiently across the northern network. You might drive the train on your own, but you’ll be part of a big team here at Northern. Working on the frontline, you’ll collaboratively work alongside Train Conductors, Station Dispatch, and Control colleagues – together ensuring our customers enjoy a true Northern experience onboard our trains.

To start off your career, you’ll join our 2-year Level 3 Train Driver Apprenticeship, which offers you a virtual, immersive, and augmented reality training programme. For the first 4 months, you’ll be in the classroom with our world-class Trainers, then you will spend you remaining time at the depot with your Driver Train Manager and Driver Minder – whilst also obtaining invaluable time with Apprenticeship Development Coaches across the entire 2-year period.

You’ll gain the essential skills, knowledge, and a functional skills qualification, to become a Qualified Train Driver – from learning how to drive trains efficiently and safely, to understand industry rules and regulations, as well as all of the traction and route knowledge for each passenger journey you take. We are committed to providing you with all the tools and resources to excel in a Train Driving career with Northern.

If this sounds like your thing, we’d love to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

As a Train Driver, you can expect a role that is diverse, exciting and offers a few challenges along the way. Here’s a glimpse into the range of duties and activities you might encounter on a daily basis:

• Train Operation: Responsible for driving trains and operating the controls, ensuring the train runs smoothly, adheres to the schedule, and maintains safe speeds.
• Safety Compliance: Strictly adhere to safety protocols, including signalling systems, speed limits, and track conditions, to ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and the public.
• Emergency Response: In the event of an emergency or unexpected situation, respond quickly and appropriately, following established procedures and protocols.
• Continuous Training: Undergo regular training and assessments to stay updated on safety procedures, regulations, and any changes in operating practices.
• Train Inspections: Conduct pre- and post-trip inspections of trains, checking for any mechanical issues or abnormalities, and reporting any concerns to maintenance staff.
• Record-keeping: Ensure accurate documentation of activities, including departure and arrival times, any incidents or delays, and other relevant information.
• Communication: Maintain clear and effective communication with control centres, signal operators, and other relevant personnel to ensure smooth train operations.
• Timetable Adherence: Following scheduled timetables, ensuring trains depart and arrive on time.
• Adaptability: Adapt to changes in routes, weather conditions, or unexpected circumstances while maintaining operational efficiency.

Learn more about being a Train Driver here.

About you:

You don’t need any previous work experience to become a Trainee Train Driver with Northern, but we are looking for exceptional individuals to join us.

You’ll be self-disciplined and able to work within rules and regulations. You'll have the ability to work calmly under pressure and remain focused and vigilant in a high-pressured environment. With your excellent time management skills, you’ll turn up for work on time, so your train departs as scheduled. You'll also show a willingness and ability to learn new skills and gain knowledge, not just in the classroom but throughout your Train Driving career. As well as having a friendly demeanour and good ability to work effectively in a team and on your own.

Because this is an apprenticeship, you’ll also need a good level of numeracy, literacy and ICT, so ideally you will hold GCSE grace C or about in Maths, English and ICT (or equivalent). Don't worry if you haven't got any previous qualifications, as part of the apprenticeship, you'll sit a functional skills test to achieve a level 2 in Maths, English or ICT before you take the end-point assessments at the end of your apprenticeship.

The role is safety critical, so there are some essential requirements for you to meet:

• Currently live within 45-minute car journey from the station you work from.*
• Be at least 20 years of age at the time of application.
• Pass the TDLCR Train Driver medical assessment, including drugs and alcohol screening.
• Not have defective colour vision.
• Obtain a pass to an enhanced level on the Train Driver Psychometric Assessments, which are valid for 5 years.**
• Commit to working early, late and weekend shifts – without relying on public transport.

*We can only consider applications from candidates who currently live within 45 minute commute time of the depot being applied for.

** We have our own Psychometric Assessment Centre, to enable you to take the Train Driver Psychometric Assessment - providing you have not previously failed them on two occasions or taken them within the last 6 months.

Our Benefits:

Because we value our people and reward hard work, we’ve created a benefits package that we think you’ll love. So, you’ll be able to make the most of:

• Opportunities to progress and grow - including comprehensive training schemes and a range of online learning courses.
• Full Uniform for Frontline Facing Roles - our frontline people are the face of the business, so we provide you with a stylish and high-quality uniform.
• Free Travel on Northern services - everyone who works at Northern, plus their partners/spouses and dependents, can travel for free right across our full network of services. *Certain eligibility criteria will apply.
• Defined Benefit Pension Scheme - you’ll rarely find a pension as good as a Northern pension, and we top up your pension with a generous 1.5 times your contribution.
• Maternity and Paternity Benefits - we go above and beyond the standard, and mums can enjoy 9 months’ maternity leave on full pay while dads can make the most of 2 weeks’ paternity leave on full pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme - advice, support and useful information 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on everything from family issues to lifestyle matters.
• Exclusive benefits with Northern Perks - enjoy retail discounts, instant vouchers, cashback, wellbeing support and much more.

You can find out more here.

Please note that Northern reserves the right to close recruitment for this role before the published closing date, if high volumes of applications are received.

However, if you miss the application window for this particular role, please keep checking back for other opportunities.

We are always on the lookout for great people to join the Northern Team!

We’re an equal opportunities employer and a promoter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, sex, ethnicity, race, religion, education, socioeconomic background, disability, or sexual orientation.

We also have Disability Confident status, which means we’re committed to making the most of the talents that disabled people can bring to the workplace.