Media centre

Thursday 12 Jan 2012

RAIL WORK PLACEMENT SCHEME OPENS TO GRADUATES IN THE SOUTH WEST OF ENGLAND

Region & Route:

| Eastern

To help young people get their careers on track, more than 25 companies across the rail sector have joined together for the first time to offer up to 100 graduates across Britain a new cross-industry, paid internship.

Network Rail Western today is encouraging graduates in the south west of England to consider this new scheme – Track and Train – to gain an all-round industry experience and get their first step on the career ladder.

According to a survey led by Network Rail, three in four (72%) graduates in the south west of England think that skills and/or work experience relevant to a job are most important to an employer. On average, the same group of graduates interviewed have also applied for at least ten jobs since they left university.

Track and Train, funded by Network Rail, aims to provide local employment opportunities and target young people, who have graduated in the last two years but have found themselves either unemployed or more likely under-employed in a non-graduate level role owing to the tough economic times.

During the 18-month internship, graduates will enjoy three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector and they will be paid £22,000 per annum. First Great Western is among the train operating companies in the south west of England to participate.

Patrick Hallgate, route managing director for Network Rail Western, said: “We know that there are many smart, talented individuals in the south west of England that haven’t had their break yet and as a growing industry we can work together to provide challenging, valuable and paid work experience to kick start their careers.

“What sets this scheme apart is those involved will work across the rail industry and by linking it all together, develop a fantastic knowledge and understanding of the challenges we all face and the opportunities for the future.”

Mark Hopwood, managing director for First Great Western said: "First Great Western is delighted to participate in this training program and help recent graduates take the first step in their careers. Many of our senior managers have come through similar programs, and there's no limit to what smart, motivated graduates can achieve with First Great Western."

As thousands of young people start 2012 looking for meaningful work, Network Rail surveyed those who have graduated in the last two years and found:

i. 42% of the respondents in the south west of England think that employers are most put off by lack of experience in a job application
ii. Around 57% of the respondents in the south west of England find it hard or sometimes hard to narrow down the job that they are looking for
iii. Around 45% of the respondents in the south west of England are not sure if they have made the right degree choice

Typical roles in Track and Train will be in network operations, station and train teams, customer service, sales and marketing, route strategy, asset management and project management. There will not be roles in corporate functions such as finance, IT or engineering, where the industry has bespoke graduate schemes already in place.

Additional coaching and mentoring classes will be provided at Network Rail’s development centre where those on the scheme will receive advice on how to present a great CV, interview techniques and presentations skills.

The closing date for application is Friday 27th January 2012 at Midday January 2012. Applicants can find out more about this scheme through http://www.trackandtrain.org.uk