How to kickstart your career in rail through Premier People Recruitment

The UK rail industry is currently undergoing extensive development.  From the high-profile projects of HS2 and Crossrail to the electrification of numerous railway lines across the country, now is the perfect time for you to start your career in rail.

The British railway industry offers a diverse range of employment opportunities.  Operational workers ensure that the rail network runs smoothly and safely. Including jobs such as train drivers, track maintenance operatives, and electricians etc.

If interested, first step would be registering with us as an agency, arranging an appointment to come into the office or popping down to one of our many recruitment drives. As an agency our compliance requirements are.

Proof of Identity/Passport (Need a copy of picture page)

Proof of National Insurance (Need a copy of card if possible, if not then a pay slip will do)

Proof of address (Need a copy of bank statement or utility bill)

All permits/tickets you possess (Need a copy of front and back)

Completing a Rail Application Form (Medical Questionnaire, Contract of Sponsorship etc)

Following a successful interview with a member of our staff you will then have a profile set up on the Sentinel System where you will be provided with a membership number. This Sentinel number will remain the same.

Sentinel is the system used to manage all rail infrastructure work across the UK by using the latest smart card technology. To obtain a Sentinel card, an individual will need to find an employer willing to become a primary sponsor for them. The company must be a RISQS registered company, who can create the delegate a platform through the Network Rail System (Sentinel). All Individuals must have a Primary Sponsor to be able to use their Sentinel card to access the Managed Infrastructure (MI). Under the scheme an individual is permitted to have a maximum of one Primary Sponsor and two Sub-Sponsors, dependent upon the Primary Sponsor granting permissions for Sub Sponsorship.

Becoming competent to work on the rail is another key component, delegates will have to undergo training to obtain competences. Industry Common Induction is the starting point allowing delegates to work on London Underground sites. Personal Track Safety is the second, which allows candidates to operate on the Network Rail Infrastructure.

Requirements are

• Must be a minimum age of 16.
• Meet the medical requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L2/OHS/00124 Competence Specific Fitness Medical Requirements)
• Make necessary arrangements for Knowledge Assessments to be read to support those who have difficulty with reading.
• Meet the requirements of Network Rail Standard NR/L1/OHS/051 (Drugs & Alcohol)
• Must have successfully completed the E-Learning training and assessment prior to attendance
• Must have sufficient command of English language, and of the English language as detailed in Network Rail Company Specification NR/S/CTM/021 (Competence & Training in Track Safety)
• Full PPE – Hi Visibility Upper and Lower Body Clothing, Hard Hat (MUST BE BLUE IN COLOUR), Safety Footwear (NR/L2/OHS/021)

Following from this, different avenues across the rail industry will become available as you can sit other various competence courses to expand your skillset including access to Docklands Light Railway and Overhead Lines Electrification Courses (Olec 1,2,3) etc depending on which avenue you choose to follow.

The rail industry is a modern and forward-thinking arena for anyone setting out on their career or looking for a career change.  It offers a wealth of opportunities and can make an excellent career path for a motivated individual.  At PPR, we have extensive experience in placing candidates in roles across the rail industry.  We are a 5* RISQS Accredited company and have worked with many railway professionals across the industry.

If you’re looking for your next railway position, PPR can help.  For more information about our current rail careers or to speak to one of our friendly and knowledgeable team, contact us today.  Call us on 01895 808188 or send us a message online.