Northern are encouraging those who served in the forces to use their experience on the railways.
To encourage them, military personnel were told they can apply for a range of roles on the railway once they leave the armed forces, during a tour of Leeds station.
Members of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and The Royal Yorkshire Regiment visited the station and Neville Hill TrainCare Centre earlier this week.
Northern staff, who work in operational and engineering roles, explained how they work to keep the trains running for thousands of passengers before highlighting the career opportunities that are available.
The train operator regularly encourages people who have previously worked in the armed forces or currently serve as reservists to apply for roles on the railway, claiming their skills and experience can be put to good use.
Lisa Leighton, Northern’s People Director, said:
“We have a range of rewarding roles to offer men and women in the armed forces who are looking to take on a new challenge.
“Northern colleagues who have previously served in the military say the transition to civilian life can be difficult, but the railway offers them the chance to join another close-knit team with a clear sense of purpose.
“It’s usually a good fit, because we are always looking for disciplined, punctual and resourceful people who work well under pressure and are prepared to go the extra mile to get the job done.”
In 2021, Northern signed the Armed Forces Covenant – a commitment to supporting the employment of veterans and recognising military skills and qualifications across our business.
Craig Lawley, who left the military in 2007 after serving with REME, recently joined Northern as an engineering infrastructure asset manager.
Craig added:
“Those who have served in the military tend to be more disciplined, as they train people to understand and follow specific instructions to get things done.
“People in the military take responsibility and get on with the task safely, effectively, and efficiently.
“Given the purpose of the railways, as a critical transport service, it needs people with discipline, who are thorough and can follow instructions implicitly, to keep things running smoothly and safely for passengers.
“People from a lot of different regiments and corps would enjoy coming into this environment. It’s a good, friendly place to work, you have a lot of people who are ready to help you and the professionalism is amazing."
If you have left or are in the process of leaving the military and are looking to put your skills and experience to use on the railway, you can register for job alerts on the Northern website, here.
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