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Looking for something?

If you have just left school and are wondering what to do next, looking for the right stepping stone from university into a working environment, or are thinking about a complete change of career direction, we'd love to hear from you.

Northern runs a great range of apprenticeships, which cover a huge number of roles and specialisms across the business, a Year in Industry Placement Scheme to give students hands-on experience, and a 24-month scheme for university graduates.

The recruitment process for our Early Career roles involves a mix of interviews, assessment days and some online tests. Each is designed around the needs of the specific role, and we will make sure you are briefed on what to expect once you have applied. As with all our roles, you will be required to attend new-starter medical, which includes drug and alcohol screening.

Apply now

Northern Apprenticeships

Northern offers outstanding opportunities to earn while you learn.

Find out more

Graduate Scheme

As well as playing a vital role in Britain’s industrial heritage, the rail industry is pivotal in improving the lives of our current customers.

Graduate Scheme

As well as playing a vital role in Britain’s industrial heritage, the rail industry is pivotal in improving the lives of our current customers.

To do this effectively and sustainably, it is essential that we are equipped to embrace the technological and social challenges of the future, so we rely on nurturing forward-thinking, well-trained leaders across the business.

Our graduate scheme is designed to attract talented young people into the rail industry and equip them with the skills to become great managers of the future, including a place on the Leadership Development Programme created for all Northern’s new managers.

Our graduate trainees learn how to lead, whether they are interested in how to run a railway, in specialisms such as engineering or marketing, or in the support services that keep things moving behind the scenes. Our carefully tailored programmes facilitate a whole range of careers and equip graduates to make informed decisions about which pathway within Northern is the best match for their talents.

The training program builds experience across Northern’s business from Operations to Customer Service, Finance, Marketing, and more, through graduate events, training modules, and a range of development activities.

Trainees work closely with Senior Managers across the business, on projects with other Northern Graduates, and benefit from excellent support and mentoring programs.

Requirements

  • Minimum 2:1 Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
  • Some work experience is useful, but not essential
  • An appetite for working in a multicultural environment
  • Leadership potential and/or substantial technical knowledge
  • Strong communication skills and fluency in English
  • A high-performance and achievement mindset
  • An interest in experimentation and innovation
  • The ability to think creatively
  • To have graduated from a University in the North of England or already live in the North

Apply now

Year in Industry

Northern’s Year in Industry Scheme is designed to complement a wide range of degree courses.

Year in Industry

Northern’s Year in Industry Scheme is designed to complement a wide range of degree courses.

The Scheme helps talented and ambitious students develop the kind of essential hands-on skills they’ll need to use alongside the theory they learn at university.

The scheme offers the chance to spend 44 weeks working as part of Northern’s team, in a variety of placements across our business, in Operations, Finance, HR, Revenue & Customer Service, Communications, Marketing, and more.

While we are a rail operating company, we can help you build your expertise in much more than just rail-specific areas. The scheme teaches the practical skills required to become a great manager, across a wide range of functions.

Requirements

  • Applicants should be working towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
  • Some work experience is useful, but not essential
  • Leadership potential and/or substantial technical knowledge
  • Strong communication skills and fluency in English
  • A high-performance and achievement mindset
  • An interest in experimentation and innovation
  • The ability to think creatively

Apply now

Northern App

Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.

Northern App

Streamline your journey and get tickets straight to your phone. Making your journey contact-free.