Rail Foundation Apprenticeship

East Midlands Railway; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 15,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days annual leave (including bank)

Free travel on East Midlands Railway

75% discount on other rail train firms

Discounted friends and family tickets

Personal development opportunities

Job summary

East Midlands Railway is recruiting for a Rail Foundation Apprentice based in Derby. You will rotate through placements across the rail industry to build the skills and confidence for a rail career. The programme emphasizes safety, customer service, and teamwork while offering travel across the EMR network and progression opportunities.

You don’t need railway experience. If you have a positive attitude and a commitment to safety, you could start a rewarding apprenticeship that develops your

Qualifications

• No railway experience required.
• Age 17–21 at start; 22–24 may qualify if meeting at least one Foundation Apprenticeship criterion.
• Must be able to complete apprenticeship coursework and assessments.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through placements across the rail industry and learn how teams work together to keep the railway safe, reliable and moving.
• Contribute to delivering excellent customer service and creating a welcoming experience for passengers.
• Follow safe working practices and demonstrate safety‑critical behaviours.
• Communicate clearly with customers and colleagues across different railway environments.
• Identify and report hazards, faults, or incidents using the proper procedures.
• Support railway operations and respond to disruption and emergencies under supervision.

Skills

Customer service

Safety awareness

Communication

Risk reporting

Rail operations support

Teamwork

Progress ownership

Resilience

Education

GCSEs or equivalent

Job description

We are proud to be One Team at East Midlands Railway (EMR). We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers, doing the right thing and putting customers at the heart of our sustainable railway for the East Midlands. Our 2,600+ people are the reason we succeed. It's why we've been accredited as a Top Employer ten times, hold Gold accreditation under the Inclusive Employers Standard, and work hard to make sure everyone feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work.

At EMR we want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce, and we recognise that some groups are under-represented in our workforce. We're taking steps to build an inclusive culture and we welcome applications from everyone to help us better represent the communities we serve.

Join #TeamEMR as a Rail Foundation Apprentice

Our Rail Foundation Apprenticeship offers hands‑on experience across the rail industry, helping you build the skills and confidence to progress into a career in rail.

This role and training are based in Derby, with travel and placements across our network.

Is this opportunity for me?

You don't need any railway experience. If you've got a positive attitude, a commitment to safety, a passion for great customer service and you're keen to learn, this could be the opportunity for you.

What will I be doing?

You’ll rotate through a range of placements across the rail industry, seeing first‑hand how different teams work together to keep the railway safe, reliable and moving.

Throughout the programme, we will equip you with the skills to:

• Put customers first – Deliver excellent customer service, supporting customers with a range of needs and creating a welcoming, inclusive experience.
• Make safety a priority – Follow safe working practices, use equipment correctly and apply safety‑critical behaviours.
• Communicate with confidence – Engage clearly and professionally with customers and colleagues across different railway environments.
• Spot and report risks – Identify and report hazards, faults, security concerns and incidents using the correct procedures.
• Support railway operations – Assist with responses to disruption and emergencies under supervision, helping keep customers informed.
• Work together – Build strong relationships across different railway teams, contributing to shared team goals.
• Take ownership of your progress – Complete your apprenticeship coursework and assessments, with support from experienced colleagues.
• Be your best – Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and professionalism while upholding EMR's values and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Age requirements

You must be aged 17–21 at the start of the apprenticeship.

If you're aged 22–24, you must meet at least one of the following Foundation Apprenticeship eligibility criteria:

You cannot apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you are 25 or over.

What's in it for me?

As well as a competitive salary, we'll also offer you:

• 32 days annual leave (including bank holidays), rising to 34 days after 2 years of service
• Free travel on East Midlands Railway and other train companies operated by Transport UK
• 75% discount on other national rail train companies, including for partners and dependants
• Discounted friends and family tickets on the EMR network
• Various personal development and progression opportunities

What is the recruitment process?

Here’s what to expect at each stage:

• Arctic Shores assessment – If your application is successful, you'll be invited to complete a short online assessment made up of game‑based tasks. There are no right or wrong answers, and it takes around 15 minutes. Please ensure you complete the assessment by 4 November 2026.
• Video interview – If successful, you’ll be invited to a video interview.
• Assessment day and interview – If successful at the video interview stage, you'll be invited to attend an assessment centre, including an interview.
• Pre‑employment checks – Complete the required checks, including a non‑safety‑critical medical.
• Offer – Receive a job offer, subject to satisfactory pre‑employment checks.

We operate a blind screening process. Please remove all personal information, including your name, from your CV.

Our assessment centres will take place on 17 and 20 November 2026. You'll only need to attend one of these dates.

You’ll learn more about the apprenticeship, meet some of the people you could be working with and showcase your skills and personality. Your interview will take place on the same day.

Have questions before applying?

Join one of our online information sessions to learn more about the apprenticeship, understand what to expect and ask questions before applying.

Both sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams. You only need to register for one.

We promise to treat you fairly, consistently and with respect throughout the application, assessment and selection process.

Using AI in your application

We want to get to know the real you, so please write your answers yourself, based on your own knowledge and experience. Applications that appear to have been written by AI may not progress. Using spelling and grammar checkers, or assistive technology you rely on day to day, is absolutely fine.

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.