BUSINESS FUNCTION: Operations

GRADE: Conductor

SALARY: £24,081, rising to £30,848 per annum after training (approx 3 months)

ROLE TYPE: On Site

HOURS: Rolling 35 per week

Is interacting with people and providing exceptional customer service ‘Your Thing’?

We are looking for proactive and committed individuals to join our Trainee Train Conductor Apprenticeship, where you’ll receive interactive, informative and practical training to equip you in succeeding as a Train Conductor.

At Northern, we play a vital role connecting millions of people to work, leisure and education opportunities.

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 yours. 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 Conductor, you’ll learn the fundamentals of what it is to be a Train Conductor with Northern Trains. In this safety critical role, one of your main areas of focus will be on delivering exceptional customer service – interacting with a diverse range of passengers and making a positive impact on their journey. You'll collaborate with Train Drivers, Duty Control, Station Dispatch and Control colleagues, as you operate the train doors, assist passengers with their travel needs, prioritise their safety and ensure their comfort throughout the journey. You’ll be integral in creating a memorable rail experience.

To kick start your career, you’ll join our one year Level 2 Train Conductor Apprenticeship. Within the first three months you’ll undergo a comprehensive training programme led by our world-class Trainers. You’ll also gain hands on experience under the guidance of your Conductor Train Manager, Conductor Standards Coach and Conductor Minder; where you will learn the intricacies of safe train conducting, customer service standards, ticketing and much, much more.

Throughout the duration of the one year Apprenticeship, you’ll not only gain the skills and knowledge to become a qualified Train Conductor but benefit from the guidance and support of our Apprenticeship Development Coaches. They will mentor you to develop your functional skills, ensuring you have the tools and resources necessary to excel in your Train Conducting career with Northern. We are fully committed to your success and growth within the company.

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

Key responsibilities

As a Train Conductor, you can expect a role where every day might look the same but the people you meet and the challenges you face will constantly differ. Here’s a snippet of what duties and activities you might encounter on a daily basis:

• Train Operations: Coordinating with Train Drivers and other Operational Teams to ensure smooth train operations – Following schedules, monitor signalling systems, and communicate with Control to maintain adherence to timetables.
• Passenger Assistance: Assist passengers with boarding and exiting trains, check tickets, providing travel information, and ensure a comfortable and safe journey. You’ll support passenger enquiries, offer assistance to vulnerable passengers, and maintain a welcoming atmosphere on board.
• Safety and Security: You’ll enforce safety regulations, adhere to safety critical door procedures, conduct safety inspections, and respond to emergencies or incidents promptly. You’ll be trained in emergency procedures and act as leaders in evacuations or other critical situations.
• Fare Collection and Revenue Protection: Collect fares, validate tickets, and ensure proper fare payment from passengers. You’ll also monitor for ticket irregularities and address instances of fare evasion or unauthorised travel.
• Communication and Coordination: Maintain communicate with Station Dispatch, Train Drivers, Dispatchers, and other crew members to ensure seamless coordination throughout the journey. You’ll provide updates on delays or disruptions and relay important information to passengers.
• Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate records of passenger counts, ticket sales, incidents, and other relevant information. These records help track operational performance and provide data for analysis and planning.
• Customer Service: Be responsible for delivering exceptional customer service – interact with passengers in a courteous and professional manner, address complaints or concerns, and strive to create a positive and enjoyable travel experience.

About you

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

You’ll have a genuine interest in people, you might not have customer service experience, but you know what it’s like to receive it. So, you’ll be courteous, be able to demonstrate effective communication, as well as showing empathy and patience towards others. You also be self-disciplined and able to work within rules and regulations. As well as having excellent time management skills, ensuring you turn up for work on time, so your train departs as scheduled. Not forgetting your willingness to learn new skills and gain knowledge consistently throughout your career.

Because this is an apprenticeship, you’ll also need a good level of numeracy and literacy, so ideally you will hold GCSE grade D in Maths and English (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 and English 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 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Pass the RIS3452 Train Worker medical assessment, including drugs and alcohol screening.
• Not have defective colour vision.
• Commit to working early, late and weekend shifts – without relying on public transport.

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

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.