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“As a station assistant for Thameslink, it’s my responsibility to dispatch trains, carry out security checks and provide passenger assistance.”

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I’ve always admired the railway – people rely on it every day and it’s an important part of life. I’ve worked very hard to get this job, and two years ago, I was offered a full-time position with Thameslink - determination pays off!”

“Leaving your comfort zone can be scary, but I encourage everyone to just jump in and do it if they’re looking for a challenge. It’s never too late to try something new and with the right team supporting you – you can’t go wrong!”

“I joined as a platform assistant last year and this year I was offered the role of team leader. It’s a lot more responsibility; I supervise an entire shift, which includes all your platform staff. It’s a big step-up but I’m really enjoying it so far. I’ve been a train enthusiast from a young age and finally getting to work on the railway is a dream come true.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. I’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first-hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I love being part of the railway and find that it’s a very supportive industry with a lot of open doors for progression. To run a good railway you need different talent and diversity of ideas so it’s really important that we continue to focus on attracting more young women to the industry.”

“I love the freedom that comes with being a train driver. Obviously, there are rules and regulations to follow as well as duties and commitments to carry out, but in a way, you’re sort of your own boss, which is nice.”

“I was in my mid-twenties when I applied to be a driver. It’s something you can go into at any point in your life and I’d recommend it to anyone, it’s a fantastic industry to be a part of. I haven’t been treated any differently just because I’m a woman – I was the only female in my training class but that didn’t bother me. I’d love more women to join us, so what are you waiting for?”

“I left school as soon as I could, which was just after finishing my GCSEs.After a couple of office and retail jobs, I started my railway career in 2013 when I was 19 years old. Over six or so years, I worked in various roles and covered pretty much every station between Stevenage and Finsbury Park. It was a slightly quieter day when I saw the job advert for a trainee driver. I applied on a whim and things progressed from there!”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”