Northern Railways

Nothing wrong with being choosy if you can afford to be!

No jobseeker can, given they are being paid by the state on what should be a very short term basis. I know this is O/T, but I don't allow any of my customers to turn their noses up at work they are capable of doing

S'alright, I'd just advise them to claim ESA instead

Dos anyone know of other rail companies who offer graduate schemes? I'm sure one of the freight companies did... Train Operating Companies don't as a rule?

I enquired about work experience with a number of TOCs all declining on safety critical grounds apart from SouthEastern who said they would keep my records on hold... Not sure why they appear an anomoly

First Group as a whole do, though you need a minimum of a 2:1 so sadly, due to illness affecting my degree, I'm not able to apply. Stagecoach also offer one, as do Arriva. Indeed, Arriva have done 2 in the past, one for the bus side and one for CrossCountry. And Kermit, claiming ESA only puts off the inevitable for a couple of months before most fail (or pass from a government point of view) their work capability assessment. Even when cases get to tribunal, less than half are actually upheld in the customer's favour. Don't get me wrong, as a JSA adviser, I'm generally pretty accommodating given my own history of claiming Incapacity Benefit for 18 months 'til July last year (including winning my own tribunal). However, whilst my number 1 priority is helping my customers help themselves, I've always got to be mindful of the fact that I am also there to protect the taxpayer.

GMPTE do/did a recent graduate recruitment scheme, not sure about the other PTEs.

With regards to the FTPE trainee driver vacancies, over 7000+ applications were received!

That does not surprise me one bit! with the current job shortage and the fact that train drivers are well paid it seems quite logical, still higher than evern I anticipated though! Just applied for the First Graduate Scheme and I am surprised anyone will bw considered who has a 2:1 regardless the subject. I wonder how many Graduates are actually taken on though?

There was a trainee driver vacancy at London Midland recently

oh and if that's true whoever said my application was one which was scanned by the human eye is surely incorrect, despite it getting past the initial screening!

I guess train driving is popular as no specific qualifications required and one of the best paid jobs without specific qualification requirement?

Pretty much.

Generally with the First Grad scheme, each of the TOC's will take one grad each, so that being FGW, TPE, FSR and FCC. Bus Operations will take one or two and sometimes some of the train planning units within the TOCs will take one.

When FNW used to dish out application forms and recruitment packs from Man Vic (concourse offices) the queues used to snake around the concourse and onto the street.

Has anyone heard much else?

Im getting concerned now, they told me last friday they were still booking assessments for those who were successful but the only people ive heard from had their assessments today.

Hopefully the old no news is good news proves to be true.

Good luck to anyone going to assessment centres today.

The assessments could be being done on a depot basis so perhaps your depot hasn't been done yet or shortlisting finished?

Assessment centre this Wednesday in Manchester for me guys, wish me luck and if any of you have any advice in advance then feel free to pass it on I'm applying for the position in Newcastle.

I'm OK with dots and should be OK with physics type questions but I'm a bit worried about the dials, the passage of text and the pre-interview questions.

So pleased to get this far hopefully I won't blow it though!

Excellent news! Good luck

If it's the TPE assessment you're doing it'll be slightly different to the 'standard' psychometric which is (or was) usually done by CCL in Crewe / Doncaster etc. You may still have to do the standard test if you get through the TPE version, that was brought in three or four years ago even for qualified drivers in order to cut through the numbers.