Southeastern is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week this week in style as it reveals it will see more than 400 apprenticeships throughout 2024.

The rail operator has launched its biggest campaign offering fantastic opportunities for apprentices to get on board with the company, with around 412 apprenticeships expected to be recruited throughout the year with roles such as:

• Train drivers
• Conductors
• Engineers
• Data analysts
• Head office management opportunities which provide the chance to progress up to a Masters in Business Administration.

Southeastern is proud to have achieved ‘Gold’ standard in all three aspects of Investors in People; People, Well-being and Apprentices and marks just one of several impressive achievements, including:

• Winner of the Male Apprentice of the Year Award (2022)
• The first operator in the country to have completions in Level 2 and Level 3 Train Drivers
• Made the Top 100 for Apprentice Employers three years in a row
• Gold Award holder for the ‘5% Club’ for two years in a row – which equates to having over 5% of the company’s workforce on an apprenticeship over the last 2 years.

Steve Foster, People Director at Southeastern, said:

We are delighted to be gearing up to welcome our biggest ever apprentice intake. We have 412 opportunities across a range of roles and we are looking for great people, who are eager to learn new skills and want to help us build a better, more reliable and sustainable railway.

People often think apprenticeships are only for young people, or people who failed their exams – that’s complete nonsense! Our learners range from teenagers to people in their sixties and from people who don’t have qualifications to those who have qualifications but simply want to pursue new opportunities.

So, if this sounds like it might be you, get in touch! We’d love to hear from you.

Steve Foster, People Director at Southeastern

23-Year-old Khadiija discusses her apprenticeship experience with Southeastern

I started working part time with an agency on the railway as something to supplement my university studies. Working in passenger assist, I enjoyed going out and about all over the network and quickly became a team leader. I loved the responsibility I had and I loved working, so I decided to leave university and work in the railway full time. 

I was really surprised at how manageable it was to fit around my job. Everything we were doing within the apprenticeship we were also doing on the job, so I could progress quickly and complete it during my working hours.

Not only did completing my apprenticeship give me the job in the railway that I really wanted, in a role that suited me, but it also helped me grow as a person. It was an opportunity to look at the things I knew I wasn’t naturally good at and it helped me learn the skills and confidence to be good at them.

If you’re thinking about doing an apprenticeship, why not? It is there for your self-development and will give you an extra qualification in your working hours.

Khadiija Mohamed, Revenue Protection Officer at London Bridge

Stephen joined Southeastern as an apprentice driver and has now become a Driver Trainer Assessor:

The environment at Southeastern is 100% supportive to those doing apprenticeships. I’ve worked at other TOCs previously and when I came over to Southeastern, I got that family feel back and felt the culture of support.

My career goal is to be a Head of a Department one day and I think doing another apprenticeship could help me get there. My school education was minimal, so all my career progression so far has been a result of hard work, going the extra mile and getting people to believe in me and give me opportunities. I’ve realised that can only take me so far, so I’m hoping to take my Level 5 Learning and Devlopment starting this June.

Stephen Ellis, Driver Trainer Assessor at Southeastern