Southeastern Rail has initiated its largest recruitment drive to date, encouraging individuals to consider a career in the rail industry.
A variety of positions are open, with Southeastern looking to hire 170 trainee drivers, over 100 station staff, and additional roles in Railway Enforcement and Protection, Onboard Managers, Train Conductors, and Engineers. There are also opportunities in management and specialised fields.
To support this unprecedented recruitment effort, Southeastern has launched a distinctive advertising campaign aimed at attracting people from communities who might not have previously considered a career in rail.
Southeastern aims to identify and eliminate barriers to opportunity, increasing social mobility and enhancing the diversity of its workforce by 10% annually. The company seeks to challenge outdated perceptions of railway careers.
The campaign features a series of 'Day in the Life' videos showcasing various colleagues and providing a behind-the-scenes look at working at Southeastern.
Typically, Southeastern recruits about 300 people annually to maintain operations. This year, they aim to double that number to support their growth and the goal of building a better, more reliable, and sustainable railway.
Earlier this year, Southeastern became the first passenger rail operator in the UK to publish a Social Mobility Action Plan, outlining its commitment to helping the regions and communities it serves achieve their potential. Access to well-paid, fulfilling careers is central to this commitment, and Southeastern looks forward to working with a broad and diverse range of applicants.
Steve Foster, Southeastern’s People Director, stated, “Working at Southeastern brings responsibility, pride, and achievement. We want to recruit individuals who represent the communities we serve. Many roles do not require prior railway experience or specific qualifications, as we provide full training. We seek applicants with the right mindset.
“There are many talented potential employees who could have rewarding careers in various roles across our network, and I encourage them to explore our opportunities and get in touch.”
Tom Blendell, a Railway Enforcement Officer featured in the campaign, shared, “The balance between family life and work life is excellent, and the team I work with is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to work. If I can do it, you can too.”