Engineering Apprenticeship - 2027 (3762)

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd.; Greater London, Brighton; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

Free travel for you and family

Discounted travel for you and family

Job summary

Govia Thameslink Railway Ltd. (GTR) is offering an Engineering Apprenticeship for 2027 with hands-on training, mentorship and real railway experience. You will learn mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering skills while working on real trains and across the network.

Starting salary £18,474 rising to £25,807, with four years of learning and hands-on development. No prior engineering experience required; training is provided and a supportive environment is promised.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths, English and Science at grade 4/C or above.

Skills

Problem solving

Willingness to learn

Travel readiness

Education

GCSE Maths/English/Science (Grade 4/C or above)

Job description

Engineering Apprenticeship - 2027 (3762)

Location:

Ever wondered how trains keep moving millions of people every day?

Do you enjoy solving problems, finding out how things work, or learning practical skills?

Whether you've always considered engineering or you're only just starting to explore your options, our Engineering Apprenticeship could be the first step towards an exciting and rewarding career.

At GTR, we're passionate about developing the next generation of engineers. We know that great engineers come from all backgrounds, and we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can succeed.

Why choose an apprenticeship with us?

• Earn while you learn from day one
• Gain a nationally recognised engineering qualification
• Learn from experienced engineers and industry experts
• Develop mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering skills
• Work on real trains that keep communities connected every day
• Travel across our network and experience different engineering environments
• Receive support from mentors, managers and fellow apprentices throughout your journey
• Build a career in an industry that is shaping the future of sustainable transport

Engineering Needs More People Like You

There's no such thing as a "typical" engineer.

We're looking for people who are curious, motivated and ready to learn. Whether you're currently studying, leaving school or college, or considering an alternative to university, we'd love to hear from you.

We particularly welcome applications from women and underrepresented groups in engineering, helping us create a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

What You'll Need

• GCSE Grade 4/C or above (or equivalent) in Maths, English and Science
• An interest in problem-solving and practical learning
• A willingness to learn and develop new skills
• The ability to travel to East Surrey College (Redhill) and our engineering locations when required
• To meet the required medical standards

No previous engineering or railway experience is needed. We'll provide the training and support. You just need the enthusiasm and commitment to succeed.

Salary & Career Progression

Starting salary of £18,474 increasing throughout the apprenticeship to £25,807

Excellent career opportunities on successful completion of the programme

Four years of learning, development and hands‑on experience

Ready to Start Your Journey?

This is more than an apprenticeship. It's an opportunity to gain qualifications, earn a salary, build confidence, develop in-demand skills and become part of a team that keeps the railway moving.

What We Can Offer You

At GTR, we are committed to supporting our colleagues both professionally and personally. In return for your skills and dedication, we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Final salary pension
• Free travel on GTR and sister groups for you and your family
• 75% off travel on other train operating companies for you, and leisure for your family
• Discounted Oyster Card
• Family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
• Access to StarHub – our employee benefits platform offering discounts with a wide range of retailers and services
• Career development and progression opportunities across the UK's largest rail networks
• The opportunity to make a real difference to millions of customer journeys every year.

We aim to provide a fair, transparent and engaging recruitment experience. This is what you can expect from our process.

• Application window: Submit your application before the advertised closing date
• Screening and shortlisting: Applications are reviewed following the closing date. This stage may include online assessments or testing, depending on the role
• Assessment: Depending on the role, you may undertake an assessment (or sent of assessments)
• Interview process: A two-stage interview process using competency-based questions to assess your skills, experience and alignment with our values
• Offer: Once successful, you will be given a verbal conditional offer which is based on a clear DBS check and medical. We will also ask you to provide your Right to Work document(s) at this stage
• Contract: Your contract and formal offer letter will be issued once a start date has been agreed
• Induction: Your first week of employment will be at our East Croydon location where you'll undertake your induction and receive your IT equipment before you meet your team and get stuck into your new role.

We will keep candidates informed throughout the process and aim to complete hiring decisions in a timely manner. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to provide individual feedback at the application stage.

If you do not yet have a National Insurance number, please enter AB 12 34 56 C when completing your application form.

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”

“It was my brother’s suggestion to join the railway. He was already working in the industry and knew I had some university bills to pay off so told me to give it a go, get out of debt and see what I wanted to do next. After a while, it just felt like actually – this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I’m part of a great team and the on-board department as a whole are brilliant to work with. I feel at home here.”

Tonderai Matizha-Johnson
Area Operations Manager

“When I saw that GTR was advertising places for its apprenticeship scheme I looked into it straight away because I thought it was a great opportunity to learn whilst getting real life experience in a 9-5 job. I applied for a level three business administration apprenticeship and was thrilled to find out I had a place on the course! I was so excited that I didn’t even mind it was based 250 miles away from where I lived.”

“Working for GTR is very rewarding and fulfilling. You really feel like you're making a difference to customers, no matter what role you're in as at the end of the day they're the heart of our business. I’ve had lots of opportunities to explore other aspects of the business including supporting our station staff and gaining my Train Dispatch Licence which has been enriching for my experience here.”

“If you’ve always had an interest in rail, or maybe you’re just curious to find out what working in the railway might look like, GTR is the operator to go for. Not many companies do an official work experience program and this unique opportunity will give you a good grounding with varied activities to help you find the best place in the railway for you. It certainly did it for me.”

Nathaniel Owen
Station Manager

“I work as part of the Fleet Infrastructure team, which means ensuring our 18 Engineering locations operate safely and efficiently. We oversee all building and track maintenance works as well as various minor and major projects across the network.”

“I started in a small ticket office back in 1996 and have continued to work my way up ever since. A previous manager told me about a job he’d seen advertised for a trainer. ’d never considered a job in HR or mentoring before then, but he said I’d be perfect for it and I haven’t looked back since!”

Zoey Hudson
Head of Talent, Diversity and Inclusion

“Since April, I’ve helped to support our Kickstart Scheme. It’s been a really rewarding process to be part of because I know first‑hand how tough it can be to find work once you’re out of it.”

“I’m a Thameslink passenger host and team leader based at Luton station and I’m currently doing a Level 3 Supervisor apprenticeship so that I can improve my skills even further. I was hesitant to do the apprenticeship at first because of my age – I left school over 60 years ago without any qualifications! It’s been hard to get back into the routine of learning again.”