Who are we?
South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England and the Isle of Wight.
Join our team and help us continue to improve quality of life, by bringing people together to get the most out of life.
SWR is part of FirstGroup, the largest rail operator in the UK and second largest bus operator in the UK outside London. FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier. FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport.
About the team:
Our people are at the heart of our business! You will be joining a team of people that are dedicated to safety and have a passion for delivering exceptional experiences for our customers.
About the job:
As a Guard, you will be the centerpiece of our on-board service, going above and beyond for our customers while getting them safely to their destination. Every day you will face new challenges while managing the train autonomously, which means you will need to be adaptable and proactive. Our highly skilled Guards need to be safety conscious, self-motivated, personable, and able to multitask, ensuring that all duties are carried out to the highest standard.
Your main responsibilities will be:
* Staying alert to danger and ensuring the safety of our customers and colleagues at all times.
* Being an ambassador for SWR and striving to exceed our customers' expectations.
* Managing periods of disruption effectively, whether this is a change to your schedule or changes that will affect our customers' journeys.
* Being visible throughout journeys, proactively helping our customers and ensuring that everyone has a great and safe journey.
* Providing regular announcements, keeping everyone onboard the train up to date with any changes.
* Managing the operational safety of the train, including customers safely boarding and alighting the train, safely dispatching the train from platforms, and maintaining safety for all passengers while on-board.
In emergency situations, our Guards are responsible for getting the right help to the right people, which can mean walking on uneven terrain for sustained periods of time.
You'll need to:
* Be prepared for change; as a Guard, you will need to be flexible in times of disruption.
* Maintain excellent focus and self-motivation for long periods of time.
* Be able to multitask and work systematically both in a team environment and autonomously.
* Enjoy interacting with customers and colleagues while going above and beyond to provide a great customer experience.
* Be able to recognize and act on changing safety and customer requirements.
* Undertake manual handling activities while moving through the train and helping passengers board and alight the train when needed.
Working pattern:
On average, you will work 37 hours per week over 4.5 days. This will include a mixture of early and late shifts across 7 days.
Additional Information:
Because we always need to be alert, we have very strict requirements around drugs and alcohol, and you will need to pass a medical checking your general health and eyesight to be able to be a Guard.
Your travel time to the depot you have applied for must not exceed 60 minutes. As public transport will not always be available, a car is preferred.
You must be over the age of 18, and if applicable, you must have a minimum of 12 months on your visa at the time of appointment.
If successful, there will be a period of training in Basingstoke; travel to and from the training centre will be in addition to your working day, however, you will have free travel on SWR services.
Please note that if you are successful at the screening stage, you will be invited to attend an assessment in Southampton. Once a date is agreed, you will be sent a complimentary travel invite.
The Reward:
£26,763 per annum rising in increments to £38,594 per annum, after completion of training and a further 12 months fully qualified, plus an associated regional allowance of £1,093.
As well as a competitive salary, we offer a variety of valuable benefits, including:
* Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
* Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
* 75% discount on many other train operating companies
* An annual leave entitlement of 30 days
* Full training and support with development
* A large range of exclusive retail offers
* Excellent pension scheme
We all belong at SWR. FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.
We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice against our colleagues, customers, and future talent.
We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working, and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.
We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible, and where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.
If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.
https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/
https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/
SWR do not employ for the role of Conductor; our team of highly skilled Guards safely manage our trains whilst in service. The term Conductor may be present during assessments; however, this is not representative of our company's job titles. If you are interested in a Conductor role, this position is comparable.
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