Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) in partnership with the Go-Ahead Group is offering people working in the rail industry the chance to opportunity to develop their skills through a tailored graduate scheme.

The scheme runs until March 2024 and will help individuals gain the skills and knowledge to prepare them for future leadership opportunities. Previous graduates of the programme have progressed to senior roles in many areas of the railway, including project management and area station management, whilst one graduate is now Head of Customer Operations.

This year, the scheme’s format changed slightly as, for the first time, Govia Thameslink Railway opened the programme to its own employees – this gives junior members of the workforce the chance to improve their skills and get ahead in their careers.

Employees taking part in the scheme will be seconded from areas of the business, including gateline assistance and on-board supervision, with their roles being backfilled whilst they complete the scheme. For part of the programme, those taking part will also work with Network Rail graduates to undertake the management inductions together.

During their first three months on the scheme, individuals will receive an intense introduction to GTR’s operations and the key departments that keep the railway running. By the time they have finished full the 18-month programme, graduate will have learnt about the complexities of station management, driver management, and on-board management, as well as Network Rail operations. That training will provide them with the necessary experience to prepare them for the next stage of their careers.

Zoey Hudson is Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion at GTR. She said:  “We’re really passionate about developing our people and already have a range of opportunities to enhance their skills. These include free online training modules covering wide-ranging topics, in-person training courses, and apprenticeships that can be studied alongside the job.

“This year, we expanded the graduate programme to current employees, giving them the chance to gain hands-on experience in operational management roles across the business. This will really prepare them to take their next steps and hopefully enjoy a lasting career in rail.”

Vikash Patel, 31, joined GTR in May 2017 on a Trainee Management Scheme. After having no prior railway experience, once he completed the programme he was employed as a station manager at London Victoria. He said: “The programme I enrolled onto was designed to help and train young individuals who want to be future leaders. We had the opportunity to spend time in many different areas of the company, which helped to provide a well-rounded experience of how a train company operates.

“I was completely new to the railway and the scheme was a fantastic way to get a deeper understanding about the industry. It helped to prepare me for my first station management role and, six years later, I’m still here and now looking after six stations in busy South London.”