Rail Services Graduate - Commercial

Arriva Group; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Arriva Rail Services invites graduates to join its Commercial-focused Graduate Programme based at Crewe depot, with travel to York, Leeds and Derby. The two-year scheme develops skills in bids, tenders, commercial growth and customer insights while offering mentoring, senior leader exposure and a connected graduate network across Arriva.

The programme operates on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of three days per week at the depot or another Arriva workplace.

Qualifications

• Degree in any discipline with strong academic track record.
• Right to work in the UK on a permanent basis.
• Availability to join the programme in September 2027.
• Willingness to travel within the UK when required.

Responsibilities

• Gain experience in bid and tender management, commercial analysis and business development.
• Develop customer insights and understand how commercial decisions are made to support growth.
• Participate in mentoring, learning sessions and cross-functional projects.

Skills

Curiosity

Proactive mindset

Communication skills

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

2:1 degree preferred

Job description

Every day, millions of people rely on transport to access the people, places and opportunities that matter most. At Arriva, we're shaping the future of passenger transport and investing in the people who will help lead it.

We are one of Europe’s leading passenger transport partners, helping people get to work, education, healthcare, family and the moments that matter. Operating across 11 countries, with around 35,000 colleagues and more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys each year, we’re a business with the scale to make a difference and the ambition to keep moving forward.

Through our Graduate Programme, we're looking for talented graduates who are curious, motivated to learn and ready to grow their careers with us.

If you're ready to make an impact, we'd love to hear from you.

The Graduate Opportunity

As an Arriva Rail Services Graduate specialising in Commercial, you'll gain first-hand experience of the activities that drive growth and long-term success across Arriva's rail business. You'll work with experienced colleagues to support opportunities that strengthen our market position and enhance the services we provide.

During the programme, you'll develop experience in areas such as bid and tender management, commercial analysis, business development and customer insights. You'll build an understanding of how commercial decisions are made and develop the analytical and strategic skills needed to support future growth across the rail sector.

Location: This role is based at our Crewe depot and will require travel to York, Leeds and Derby. The role operates on a hybrid basis, with a minimum of three days per week at the depot or another Arriva workplace.

What We're Looking For:

We're not expecting you to have all the answers. We're looking for graduates with curiosity, drive and the confidence to keep learning. People who take ownership, build positive relationships and want to make a meaningful contribution from day one.

What matters most is your potential. We're looking for people who are eager to learn, motivated to grow and ready to develop their Arriva Graduate EDGE.

About You:

We're open to applications from graduates of all degree disciplines. We're particularly interested in people who:

• Are curious, proactive and eager to learn

• Enjoy solving problems and thinking creatively

• Have strong communication and relationship-building skills

• Can analyse information and use data to support decision-making

• Enjoy working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders

• Are interested in commercial strategy, business development and customer insight

• Are curious about how organisations identify opportunities and make commercial decisions

• Enjoy analysing market, customer and performance information

• Want to develop experience in bids, tenders and commercial growth

The Graduate Programme

Alongside your role, you'll be part of our two-year graduate development programme, benefiting from structured learning, mentoring, exposure to senior leaders and a connected graduate network across Arriva.

The breadth of experience gained throughout the programme will help you develop the commercial awareness, analytical skills and strategic thinking needed to support growth across Arriva Rail Services.

You may also have opportunities to undertake relevant learning and professional development in areas such as commercial management, bid and tender management, business development and project management.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for this opportunity, you'll need:

• To be on track to achieve, or have already achieved, a degree (2:1 preferred, with strong 2:2 applications considered)

• The right to work in the UK permanently

• Availability to join the programme in September 2027

• Willingness to travel where required in the UK

If you have any questions about the role or the application process, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our Early Careers team at [e-mail]. We're always happy to help.

The closing date for applications is close of play Friday 27 November 2026. We'll encourage you to apply at your earliest convenience, as we review applications as they are received and may close this opportunity early.