Trainee Train Driver Apprenticeships
We look for exceptional candidates to join our apprenticeship schemes. Our trainee drivers need to be self-disciplined, and able to work within rules and regulations. They need to be calm even under pressure, focused, vigilant, punctual, and reliable, with a genuine willingness to learn new skills and adapt to change.
We ask a lot of our apprentices, but we offer exceptional training and career prospects in return.
Our driving apprenticeships begin with an intensive three-month training period, covering the key aspects of safety, operations, and driver responsibilities. We also train you to offer exceptional customer service and equip you to respond to the challenges of this rewarding career.
What qualifications do you need to be a train driver?
To become a train driver, you will need a good level of numeracy and literacy, so you will hold GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).
To apply for a place on Northern’s Driver Apprenticeship Scheme, you should:
- be at least 20 years of age
- not have defective colour vision
- not have failed the Train Driver assessment within the last six months
- not have failed the Train Driver assessment twice before
Candidates need to be flexible enough to work shifts from the early hours of the morning until late at night, at weekends, and on Bank Holidays, and to be able to get to work for early and late shifts without relying on public transport. This means living within a 45-minute car journey from their place of work.
What to expect during the recruitment process
Our recruitment process for a train driver role involves a multi-stage evaluation that has been designed to test your safety awareness, behavioural traits and mental aptitude. The five main stages of this process are:
The first step to becoming a train driver is to submit an online application. This process includes providing more information about your personal details and employment history, answering questions about your skills and experience, and completing 2 competency-based questions focused on non-technical skills.
Our Trainee Train Driver recruitment process consists of an interview with Northern’s Driver Management Team, based in Leeds. During this interview, you will be asked a series of competency-based questions so we can get to know you better.
Successful candidates will be invited to take the RSSB Train Driver Psychometric Assessments, which must be passed to an enhanced standard. The three main stages for this include paper assessments, computer assessments, and a multimodal interview. The process is designed to identify candidates who meet the job requirements in terms of aptitude, safety, and behavioural preferences.
Northern has its own in-house Assessment Centre in Leeds, which facilitates Driver Psychometric Assessments for candidates who have applied for Trainee Train Driver roles and who have passed the initial selection stages. All Northern Assessors are Members of the British Psychological Society and are registered with the Office of Road and Rail to carry out Train Driver Assessments to the current Industry Standard. We also offer our Psychometric Assessment services to other train operating companies within the Rail Industry.
As this is a safety-critical role, we need to ensure you are fit to do the job. The medical assessment includes checks for general health, vision, and hearing, as well as a drug and alcohol screen.
Once you've made it through the recruitment stages, you will receive an offer from us. We will provide you with a start date and let you know which training course you're going to be on.
How long does it take to become a train driver?
After passing the application process, train driver training takes place over the course of 64 weeks, where you will learn to drive the Northern way.
Our driving apprenticeships begin with an intensive three-month training period, covering the key aspects of safety, operations, and driver responsibilities.
This training is split between classroom learning, which takes place at Northern's training academies in either Manchester or Leeds, and practical training to gain hands-on experience at your local depot.
We also train you to deliver exceptional customer service and equip you with the right train driver qualifications to meet the challenges of this rewarding career.
Benefits of becoming a train driver with Northern
As a Northern train driver you can expect a number of perks, including:
- Free network travel – unlimited free rail travel across the Northern Network for you and eligible dependents.
- Career development – comprehensive training is offered based on your individual needs.
- Generous holiday entitlement – benefit from a great allowance, inclusive of bank holidays.
- Enhanced parental leave – benefit from 9 months of full pay maternity leave and 2 weeks of full pay paternity leave.
- Health & support – Round-the-clock support through the Employee Assistance programme.
- Northern perks - enjoy retail discounts, instant vouchers, cashback, wellbeing support and much more.
Discover more about who we are and the benefits of working for us today.
How to apply for a train driver apprenticeship
To apply for a train driver apprenticeship with Northern, you need to submit an online application via the Northern Careers portal when a vacancy is open. Click the button below to start your application and discover our trainee train driver jobs today.
To find out more about the latest Train Driver Apprenticeship standard, please visit the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
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Northern provides over 2,500 rail services every weekday to over 500 destinations across the North. We are also an integral part of the communities we serve, and we are committed to being one of the best places to work too. Find out more about working with us and current vacancies today.
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