Platform Assistant

East Midlands Railway; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free travel on EMR

75% discounted travel on national rail

Friends & Family discounted tickets

Defined benefit railway pension

Benefits portal

Cycle to Work

And much more

Job summary

East Midlands Railway (EMR) is seeking Platform Assistants to join Nottingham Station. You’ll be at the heart of the station, dispatching trains, guiding customers and assisting with boardings while ensuring safety and a welcoming environment.

This Safety Critical role requires a proactive, calm, and customer-focused approach. Training is provided, and shift patterns cover the full operating day, with a 4-day week and 37 hours per week.

Qualifications

• Proactive and positive attitude.
• Calm and confident in busy environments.
• Safety-focused with attention to detail.
• Great communicators with customers.
• Reliable and team-focused.

Responsibilities

• Safely and punctually dispatching train services
• Providing customers with information, guidance and wayfinding support
• Helping passengers board and alight trains, including customers who need additional care or assistance
• Supporting security checks at the station
• Being visible, proactive and approachable throughout your shift
• Acting as an ambassador for EMR and creating a positive experience for our customers
• Staying calm, focused and professional during busy periods and disruption

Skills

Proactive attitude

Calm under pressure

Safety-focused

Great communicators

Reliable and team-focused

Customer focused

Job description

Location: Nottingham Contract Type: Permanent Salary: Full time salary £25,960.74 per annum rising to £29,800.19 after 6 months Free travel on EMR services and 75% discount on all other train operators Closing Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026 Interview Date: To be confirmed Reference: 2026-68

Platform Assistant – Nottingham Station

Join #TeamEMR and help keep Nottingham moving

At East Midlands Railway, we’re proud to be One Team.

Every day, our 2,600 colleagues work together to keep people safe, put customers first and build a sustainable railway for the East Midlands.

We’ve been accredited as a Top Employer ten times and have achieved Gold accreditation against the Inclusive Employers Standard. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to bring their authentic self to work.

Now, we’re looking for future Platform Assistants to join #TeamEMR at Nottingham Station.

About the role

As a Platform Assistant, you’ll be at the heart of the station.

You’ll be one of the first people our customers see and someone they can rely on throughout their journey. From helping someone find the right platform to safely dispatching a train, you’ll play a vital role in keeping our railway safe, welcoming and running on time.

This is a Safety Critical role, so safety will always come first. But it’s also a role where your personality, communication skills and willingness to go the extra mile can make a real difference to our customers.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Safely and punctually dispatching train services
• Providing customers with information, guidance and wayfinding support
• Helping passengers board and alight trains, including customers who need additional care or assistance
• Supporting security checks at the station
• Being visible, proactive and approachable throughout your shift
• Acting as an ambassador for EMR and creating a positive experience for our customers
• Staying calm, focused and professional during busy periods and disruption

No two shifts will be exactly the same. Nottingham is a busy station, and you’ll need to think on your feet, make confident decisions and remain calm under pressure — all while delivering a great customer experience.

Most Platform Assistants work 37 hours per week across a 4-day working week.

This is a shift-based role covering the full operating day of the station. At Nottingham, the earliest book-on time is 04.45 and the latest book-off time is 02:15, so flexibility is essential.

Training & safety

No railway experience? That’s absolutely fine.

We’ll give you the training and support you need to build your railway career.

Your training will include classroom-based learning covering railway rules and procedures, followed by a supported mentoring period at the station. You’ll learn from experienced colleagues and develop the knowledge and confidence needed to carry out the role safely.

As this is a Safety Critical position, successful candidates will need to pass a medical assessment, including drugs and alcohol screening. This is a condition of employment.

What we’re looking for

You don’t need previous railway experience. What matters is that you have the right attitude and are ready to learn.

We’re looking for people who are:

• Proactive and positive, with a genuine can-do attitude
• Calm and confident in a busy, fast-moving environment
• Safety focused, with strong attention to detail
• Great communicators, able to connect with a wide range of customers
• Reliable and team-focused, with a willingness to support those around you
• Customer focused, with a desire to make a positive difference to every journey

If you enjoy working with people, take pride in doing things properly and want a role where every day brings something different, we’d love to hear from you.

What’s in it for you?

As part of #TeamEMR, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Free travel on the EMR network
• Up to 75% discounted travel across the national rail network
• Friends & Family discounted tickets
• Defined benefit railway pension scheme
• Access to a comprehensive employee benefits portal
• Cycle to Work scheme
• And much more

Our commitment to inclusion

At EMR, we want our workforce to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

We recognise that women and ethnic minority groups are currently under-represented in parts of our organisation, and we’re actively working to change that.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and particularly encourage applications from those who identify with currently under-represented groups.

Your next career could start here. Join #TeamEMR and help us keep the East Midlands moving.

PLEASE NOTE - This vacancy may close early if application numbers are high.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, we promote equal opportunities for all. East Midlands Railway is a non-discriminatory employer committed to the recruitment and promotion of all on the basis of ability and merit irrespective of disability, race, gender, health, social class, sexual preference, marital status, nationality, religion, employment status or age. We’ll treat your application fairly and assess you for the job based on merit and skills.