Ahead of International Women’s Day next Friday, 8 March, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has announced that it has recruited five new female train drivers through its partnership with the coaching, consulting, and networking organisation, Career Returners.

Career Returners is a social enterprise that aims to remove the ‘Career Break Penalty’, and have been working together since 2022 to discover talent among those people taking extended career breaks.

Following their initial recruitment, testing, and training onboard trains, the women are now employed full-time as trainee drivers with Southern Rail.

Details of the latest vacancies with Govia Thameslink Railway can be found at https://gtrailwaycareers.com/jobs/home/.

A look at some of those returning to work

One of the women recruited is Leigh Santamaria who had been out of work for 10 years due to caring for her daughter She said “My daughter is very vulnerable and will probably have to live with me for the rest of her life, so it felt right to pause my career and focus all my energy on her.

“Coming back to work after a 10-year break was a huge change because I’d been out of the loop for so long. However, the support I’ve received through the Returners programme has been invaluable, which has made the transition so much easier.”

Read Leigh’s case study by clicking here.

Elba Lovelace-Francis also faced a tough decision between juggling work and raising a family, and chose not to return after her maternity leave ended. She explains: “It didn’t feel right to go back to work after my first baby as it would have been very long days where I wouldn’t get home until midnight. I’d looked into working in rail previously, but the timing was never right.

“I saw something on social media advertising the train driver vacancies through the Returners scheme. At this point, I had been out of work for over a year, so the programme seemed perfect for me.”

“You have to be determined to see it through. I will finish in the driving school at the end of March, and then I’ll be out driving trains for real under supervision. I can’t wait!”

Read Elba’s case study by clicking here.

Hazel Little, CEO of Career Returners, said: “We are thrilled to witness the remarkable journey of the career returners as they flourish in their roles as Trainee Train Drivers. Our partnership with GTR has been a catalyst for their success, empowering them to confidently navigate and excel in this intensive programme.

“Witnessing their growth and accomplishments is not just fulfilling; it’s a testament to the power of tailored support, coaching, and determination. We look forward to continuing this impactful work, creating more opportunities for individuals to break barriers and thrive in the professional landscape.”

Zoey Hudson, Govia Thameslink Railway’s Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion, said: “We’re passionate about attracting the best talent, and we know this can’t be done through traditional avenues alone. It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of the Returners scheme and welcome five women to the business that had perhaps never even considered working in rail. The programme goes to show that just because someone has been out of employment for an extended time, they are no less determined or capable.”