Shunter Driver - Grove Park, Hastings & Ashford ONLY

Job Introduction

Southeastern are currently only accepting applications for Grove Park, Ashford & Hastings (West Marina) depot. If you would like to be considered for any of our other depot's please wait until later in the year when we readvertise.

As a Shunter Driver you will be responsible for ensuring Trains are shunted/driven and prepared for service, as well as communicating with YMC's, Drivers, Signallers and other agencies/contractors, via radio and the preferred method of face to face.                                

On top of driving units, another vital part of the role is to correctly set routes for the trains, by pulling points manually, to ensure the trains are positioned in the correct part of the yard. Driving a train carries great responsibility but with that comes pride and achievement, knowing that an invaluable service has been delivered on time to a ever changing industry.

We’re looking for a great mix of talented people with concentration, co-ordination, great teamworking skills and a talent for customer service too – our training provides all the skills and knowledge you'll need to operate a train.

Shunter Driving is a safety critical role, so you must be aged over 21 to apply

On appointment into a Shunter Driver role you will be enrolled into the Shunter Driver Apprenticeship Programme which will lead to a nationally recognised qualification.

You will be given full vocational training (including functional skills) to ensure you have the skills, experience and knowledge required for the role.

Working hours

You will work a varied shift pattern, which includes weekends, bank holidays and nights. 

Depots Available:

• Grove Park, Ashford - Kent, & Hastings (West Marina), Please note you will need to be within a 40 minute travel distance to apply for these depots. Candidates residing North of the river are, sadly, not permitted to apply for any Southeastern Depot at this time.

The Ideal Candidate

We are seeking applications from people of all backgrounds who can demonstrate the following:

• Excellent communication skills
• Proactive approach to problem solving and decision making
• Disciplined with a respect for rules & procedures
• Punctual and reliable
• Willing to demonstrate our values on a day to day basis

See what our Shunter Driver Hannah had to say about why she applied;

Package Description

Southeastern recognises the value of every individual employee and offers benefits that reflect this.

As well as a generous salary, we offer an comprehensive benefits package which includes;

• A Contributory Final Salary Pension Scheme 
• Free rail travel on Southeastern and GTR rail services (extends to family members for leisure/educational travel)
• After a qualifying period, reduced rate travel on other train operators, including European services
• 24 days annual leave entitlement (which includes bank holidays) and a proportion of your annual leave is rostered. 
• Access to an array of discounts for retail and leisure products through our benefits scheme.
• Family friendly benefits including enhanced maternity/paternity leave, parental leave and carers leave.
• Full training, a nationally recognised qualification and free uniform

About the Company

The standard blurb…

Southeastern is one of the busiest commuter rail companies in the UK running more than 2,000 trains, and carrying nearly 600,000* passengers every day between London, Kent and East Sussex.

Just over 4,500 employees - mostly from the communities that we serve - work together to provide this vital service and we are looking to expand our successful team. We have a strong set of values that shape the way we run our business and guide our staff in delivering what our customers need. These are:

·We aim to be the best

·We make the difference together

·We care passionately about our people and our passengers

Southeastern are proud to work with some fantastic organisations and our recent accreditations are part of our journey to becoming an even better place to work.  We continue to work across the industry and forge closer working with Network Rail

*now nearer 470,000 …. The pandemic continues to affect how we all work and travel!

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds

We are going to do this recruitment a bit differently.  We are going to involve our colleagues in your interview.  The final stage will involve a presentation or a challenge for you to address.  Whether you have worked in rail all your life or you want to come and see what it is about we want to hear from you.  We want a workforce as diverse as the communities we serve and for you to meet our people as part of the process.

What you should really know about working at Southeastern

Winner of Rail Business of the Year 2023 as well as being highly commended in both the Diversity and Inclusion and the Wellbeing in Rail categories

Ranked as part of the 5% club in the Apprenticeships Top 100 Employees 2022. The country’s most outstanding apprenticeship employers for 2022 were recognised for their vital work boosting career opportunities for more people

Currently seeking assessment against the Investors in People ‘We Invest in Apprentices’ accreditation and already hold Gold accreditation against the other two IiP Standards: We Invest in People and We invest in Wellbeing

Financial Times Diversity Leaders ranking for 2023 comprising 850 companies across Europe seen to do more than just talk about their commitment to diversity and inclusion taking action to promote change and create an inclusive environment

Named in The Sun's Top 8 menopause-friendly employers (in 2022)

Won the Women in Rail Top Employer award in both 2020 and 2022. 

SE Trains Limited