NEW LNER Trainee/ Apprentice Drivers - Newcastle now being advertised 15/02/2020

[PaulN]

https://lnerjobs.co.uk/jobs/vacancy...8-newcastle-central-station-/666/description/

Should live within 1 hours drive of the location you are applying for at the time of application. Successful candidates will be responsible for making their own way to the depot, even when public transport is not available.

good luck

 

[tiptoptaff]

Did the random words in bold give anyone else a headache?

 

[route101]

Do you have to live near Newcastle? What happens if you will relocate?

 

[theironroad]

Do you have to live near Newcastle? What happens if you will relocate?

Did you read the advert?

It says:

"Live within 1 hours drive of the location you are applying for at the time of application. Successful candidates will be responsible for making their own way to the depot, even when public transport is not available."

 

[route101]

Did you read the advert?

It says:

"Live within 1 hours drive of the location you are applying for at the time of application. Successful candidates will be responsible for making their own way to the depot, even when public transport is not available."

Yes I did. Does not seem to be any way round it.

 

[theironroad]

Yes I did. Does not seem to be any way round it.

Not really if you have no connection with area. Guess if you have connections in area you could get around it,but not ideal.

Realistically, from LNER's point of view they know they can probably get thousands of applicants from people within a 20 minute radius, let alone 1 hour.

 

[DA1]

They quite often advertise (I say often, more than once a year) for Newcastle more than other locations, the last campaign was October/November last year. Any reason why?

 

[tiptoptaff]

They quite often advertise (I say often, more than once a year) for Newcastle more than other locations, the last campaign was October/November last year. Any reason why?

Without knowing the area, could be one of a few things:

Newcastle could be the largest depot by establishment. Larger depot means larger turnover.

LNER depot is likely to have been formed of "Link 1" Newcastle Inter-City drivers way back when, who due to their age when they'd have made it in to the right links to drive HSTs and 91s to London and Scotland, could now be reaching retirement

Despite getting a large number of applications each time, only a relatively small number are suitable

 

[TJ123]

They quite often advertise (I say often, more than once a year) for Newcastle more than other locations, the last campaign was October/November last year. Any reason why?

I imagine most of this would be down to retirement. TOCS like LNER/Avanti/XC previously didn't or had no need to recruit off the street, but I imagine with these tocs there will be a large amount of drivers that are approaching retirement or already at retirement age and can go just like that.

In my opinion once this next cycle if you like of new drivers have been recruited, we won't see off the street recruitment again for a very long time I'm talking years and it will go back the way it was before, with these TOCS only recruiting qualified drivers ad hoc or recruiting internally.

 

[L-J]

It's a good company to work for.

 

[Maxboy3108]

Hi, I’m just wondering how strict they are on age as I’ll be 20 in august as my circumstances mean that this could be perfect for me.

 

[Ceat0908]

Hi, I’m just wondering how strict they are on age as I’ll be 20 in august as my circumstances mean that this could be perfect for me.

Depends when the training course starts. Drop LNER careers a message on Facebook. They normally reply in a few days.

 

[train-safe]

Hi, I’m just wondering how strict they are on age as I’ll be 20 in august as my circumstances mean that this could be perfect for me.

Be over 20.5 years of age at time of application,

unfortunately you wont be able to apply

 

[Maxboy3108]

Depends when the training course starts. Drop LNER careers a message on Facebook. They normally reply in a few days.

Be over 20.5 years of age at time of application,

unfortunately you wont be able to apply

Thanks for the help, hopefully, there will be more apprentice/trainee opening in my area after my birthday. I’ll still try LNER careers because you never know.

It’s my first time doing this so I think I’ve quoted/replied to both of you (Ceat0908 and train-safe)

 

[train-safe]

Thanks for the help, hopefully, there will be more apprentice/trainee opening in my area after my birthday. I’ll still try LNER careers because you never know.

It’s my first time doing this so I think I’ve quoted/replied to both of you (Ceat0908 and train-safe)

100% mate, always keep an eye open

 

[L33mcc]

I completed the application today and was then sent an email that I was successful and they now want me to do a quiz.

I live 10 mins from station on bike. Is this why ?

 

[Davidh1998]

I completed the application today and was then sent an email that I was successful and they now want me to do a quiz.

I live 10 mins from station on bike. Is this why ?

Probably not, fairly sure it asks you to complete an online assessment. No way would they have started going through applications, probably an automated thing

 

[800001]

I completed the application today and was then sent an email that I was successful and they now want me to do a quiz.

I live 10 mins from station on bike. Is this why ?

I think everyone who applied completes some initial online assessments, it's there way of culling a vast majority of applications.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Just to point out, especially as we have a 19 year old wanting to apply for this, just because it says apprenticeship doesn't mean it is.

They're not looking for an apprentice in the usual sense, ie a youngish school leaver.

They're looking for a traditional trainee driver, just badged differently to claim some money from the government.

It's a subtle distinction but I think an important one. They're still going to be looking for the "life experience" they always look for in trainee drivers.

 

[lhenderson92]

I completed the application today and was then sent an email that I was successful and they now want me to do a quiz.

I live 10 mins from station on bike. Is this why ?

Have you completed the quiz mate? If you have then what was it like?

 

[route101]

Just to point out, especially as we have a 19 year old wanting to apply for this, just because it says apprenticeship doesn't mean it is.

They're not looking for an apprentice in the usual sense, ie a youngish school leaver.

They're looking for a traditional trainee driver, just badged differently to claim some money from the government.

It's a subtle distinction but I think an important one. They're still going to be looking for the "life experience" they always look for in trainee drivers.

Thats what im thinking, they probably will have a few young ones to show they are recruiting younger people, same with XC.

 

[SeanG]

I've been looking at applying and see that the salary is roughly £28k. Does this rise after training is complete, and to what ball park figure? It would be a bit of a salary drop for me to go down to £28k. If anyone knows I would be very appreciative. Thanks

 

[Cyclist]

Completed "train driver", "error checking" and "verbal reasoning". Now we wait. I'm never sure how well I've done on the VR one!

I've been looking at applying and see that the salary is roughly £28k. Does this rise after training is complete, and to what ball park figure? It would be a bit of a salary drop for me to go down to £28k. If anyone knows I would be very appreciative. Thanks

other people will reply with a more precise answer but the salary for a fully trained driver is upwards of £50k, probably 60k+ after a few years but I'm sure others will know precise numbers.

 

[Chuchu]

Does anyone know a phone number for the HR dept. ? Thinking of asking them if there is any way around regarding relocation ... thanks !

 

[Hincappie]

I've been looking at applying and see that the salary is roughly £28k. Does this rise after training is complete, and to what ball park figure? It would be a bit of a salary drop for me to go down to £28k. If anyone knows I would be very appreciative. Thanks

Your salary will usually rise throughout the training providing you're successful at assessment stages. You should only be on 28 for a few months I would think.

After successful pass out I think LNER pay in the region of £67,000 though that may be full whack after your PQA period. Either way I would think that after your apprenticeship, so one year in, you'll be up to around £60K.

This is just the way its worked before so I can't confirm any of this but well worth taking the hit for a while. My pay went down hugely too when I first started. Think of the long haul.

 

[Maria.W]

Hi everyone. First time poster (although I've been stalking the forums for years) and first time going through the application process.

I went through the initial application process on Monday and completed the 3 online assessments. Can anyone tell me how long it takes to hear back from this point? I have no idea how I faired on the VR test!

 

[800001]

Does anyone know a phone number for the HR dept. ? Thinking of asking them if there is any way around regarding relocation ... thanks !

Knowing how strict they are with internals, you must most definitely live with the the 1 hour drive when you apply.

 

[TJ123]

I've been looking at applying and see that the salary is roughly £28k. Does this rise after training is complete, and to what ball park figure? It would be a bit of a salary drop for me to go down to £28k. If anyone knows I would be very appreciative. Thanks

28k to start
Something like 35k once rules and traction passed
70k once passed out (normally 10-12 months but in this current covid climate I would extend that by a good few months)
Not bad considering some TOCS make you wait a few years before you're on full whack

 

[Chuchu]

Knowing how strict they are with internals, you must most definitely live with the the 1 hour drive when you apply.

You were right, I tried to apply just now and the first two questions are about age and distance. If you say no at the distance question, then their automatic reply is : "Unfortunately your application is not suitable for this role at present. Please keep an eye out for future opportunities on the LNER careers website.". Oh well, need to wait for Kings Cross to have vacancies if I want to have a chance.

 

[HLZ77]

Hi, I completed the application and 3 online assessments yesterday. I haven't received any emails since to say 'thanks but no thanks' or that I'm progressing to the next stage. Is that normal? If I failed the VR test would I have been notified straight away?

Thanks in advance for any input.