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Northern Talent Pool.

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Class-jnr

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Joined
19 Apr 2019
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29
Evening all,

I have been really lucky to have just received the email saying I have successfully passed all stages of the interview & assessment and have now been placed in the holding pool for driver with Northern.

Anyone have any ideas how long the wait may be or the amount of people already in the pool?
thanks
 
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Louby

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Joined
16 Feb 2012
Messages
669
i was in for 2 and a half years! training is a mess at min due to covid, plus there are plenty of trainees near and just started their training who are also at home , just get on with life and keep checking in with them every few weeks
 

richfoz84

Member
Joined
13 Oct 2018
Messages
343
I send an email a few times to see where they were up to. But the first 2 replies were “sorry but due to Covid” the third reply was “your pencilled in for the next course”
 

Tiz

Member
Joined
4 Dec 2019
Messages
55
Location
Preston
Evening all,

I have been really lucky to have just received the email saying I have successfully passed all stages of the interview & assessment and have now been placed in the holding pool for driver with Northern.

Anyone have any ideas how long the wait may be or the amount of people already in the pool?
thanks
Have you had a medical as well?
 

Tiz

Member
Joined
4 Dec 2019
Messages
55
Location
Preston
No received the email saying I had passed but due to the high volume of pass rates at assessment I am in the pool until a course is available
I recently passed my interview and assessments but got an email a couple of weeks ago saying I would get a date for a medical by email and letter.
 

AngusYoung

Member
Joined
21 Aug 2018
Messages
15
Back log in training at the moment, courses from February and March still haven't finished due to Covid-19.
 

Fred Dinenage

Member
Joined
23 Jul 2013
Messages
347
Training classes are made up of people from different depots in a class at the same time. So, effectively, every depot which has trainees is affected.
 

CreamNCookies

Member
Joined
10 Aug 2018
Messages
414
All I would say is that Northen only count their interview passes for around 9 months, then you have to re-apply. Don't make the mistake I did and put all eggs in one basket a while ago.
 

Fred Dinenage

Member
Joined
23 Jul 2013
Messages
347
Presumably not the Fred Dineage of Video 125's Connex Express fame?

Alas, no

Let’s just say I have intimate knowledge of the difficulties faced by Northern trainees...which obviously apply to other TOCs and FOCs.

@Class-jnr. You’re obviously anxious to be employed, and begin training.

However, bear in mind people who have already started training have been “stood down”, if you like.

It’s not clear when things will return to any semblance of normality for training which involves trainees with minders. Classroom training is also affected to an extent, as the practical aspects of training school ( though they’re now later in the program than they used to be ) are also suspended for the moment.

In a nutshell, you’ll have to be patient.
 

Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
171
Location
north west
Alas, no

Let’s just say I have intimate knowledge of the difficulties faced by Northern trainees...which obviously apply to other TOCs and FOCs.

@Class-jnr. You’re obviously anxious to be employed, and begin training.

However, bear in mind people who have already started training have been “stood down”, if you like.

It’s not clear when things will return to any semblance of normality for training which involves trainees with minders. Classroom training is also affected to an extent, as the practical aspects of training school ( though they’re now later in the program than they used to be ) are also suspended for the moment.

In a nutshell, you’ll have to be patient.

So Northern trainees are no closer to resuming training then? I applied for a trainee driver position in Manchester back in April and heard nothing back since which is to be expected.
 

Fred Dinenage

Member
Joined
23 Jul 2013
Messages
347
Discussions are ongoing. I’m not privy to meetings, just occasional feedback. RICF and other groups are involved, which slows down the process. But it’s got to be “right” to protect all involved. And in-cab training by all involved is on a voluntary basis - if someone isn’t satisfied that they’ll be safe, they’re not obliged to take part.

This is my understanding of what’s going on at the moment.
 

Efini92

Established Member
Joined
14 Dec 2016
Messages
1,719
Traction conversions have resumed but it’s only on a voluntary basis.
Practical handling for trainees is apparently going to resume in the next couple of weeks.
 

Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
171
Location
north west
Traction conversions have resumed but it’s only on a voluntary basis.
Practical handling for trainees is apparently going to resume in the next couple of weeks.

Im guessing we will not be hearing back from Manchester depots anytime soon then? Seems like anything for the remainder of the year isn't likely
 

Efini92

Established Member
Joined
14 Dec 2016
Messages
1,719
You may hear back soon. I was told on Wednesday there’s more courses pencilled in for the rest of the year. Northern are recruiting for 50 more drivers at the Manchester Depots.
 

Manda2194

Member
Joined
30 Apr 2020
Messages
171
Location
north west
You may hear back soon. I was told on Wednesday there’s more courses pencilled in for the rest of the year. Northern are recruiting for 50 more drivers at the Manchester Depots.

That’s good news.Last email we got was saying that the roles we applied for were for positions starting in autumn and beyond so that makes sense. That was in May.

50 drivers is surprising though. I think I’ve seenon this forum before the Manchester depots have massive overtime bills..

Are they trying to get away from that?
 

Seehof

Member
Joined
1 Sep 2019
Messages
402
Location
Yorkshire
No company should rely on their staff doing masses of overtime. (Even if you get paid a fortune for doing it, which is nice for those wanting to pay off mortgages early etc).
 
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