Bit of both, we have a couple a recently trained lads at our place who've been promoted internally.
I wouldn't be surprised if my thoughts made you ask this. Regardless, I use to believe that Virgin usually only take qualified drivers because it's cheaper and due to the rate of pay and quality of work they can expect to. However, with one post saying a few recently trained drivers have come from within, it makes me think otherwise and that because of a lot of drivers due for retirement soon (from the 70s/80s?) it's probably not possible to poach them all from other companies.
So my answer: yes it is a bit of both, but I'm more willing to think they prefer poaching from other companies but will promote internally if it's not possible. CrossCountry are the same, except I understand that company does not intend or plan to recruit trainee train drivers for the remainder of the franchise.
Virgin, Cross Country and East Coast have absolutely no problems with recruiting Qualified Drivers.I wouldn't be surprised if my thoughts made you ask this. Regardless, I use to believe that Virgin usually only take qualified drivers because it's cheaper and due to the rate of pay and quality of work they can expect to. However, with one post saying a few recently trained drivers have come from within, it makes me think otherwise and that because of a lot of drivers due for retirement soon (from the 70s/80s?) it's probably not possible to poach them all from other companies.
So my answer: yes it is a bit of both, but I'm more willing to think they prefer poaching from other companies but will promote internally if it's not possible. CrossCountry are the same, except I understand that company does not intend or plan to recruit trainee train drivers for the remainder of the franchise.
Virgin, Cross Country and East Coast have absolutely no problems with recruiting Qualified Drivers.
Hey, just a quick query. Do Virgin trains recruit only experienced drivers, promote from within or is it a bit of both?
Virgin, Cross Country and East Coast have absolutely no problems with recruiting Qualified Drivers.
Its a big problem for regional operators (loosing drivers to Intercity operators). So much so, a lot are putting in contractual clauses requiring trainees to stay for X years or give 6 months+ notice to resign.
Should a qualified Driver apply for say VT and be successful then VT will wait whilst he serves his notice period giving a start date when it's finished. All TOC's will do this it's just part of the job so to speak.
It gets quite nasty when you to try to leave. When I left a certain TOC - I had to give 6 months notice contractually but I asked if I could reduce it...the result was the TOC threatening to sue me for breach of contract and threatening to sue my new TOC for employing me...
In reality I think they might have been empty threats as I have never heard of anyone actually being sued but is enough to put off people leaving...
It gets quite nasty when you to try to leave. When I left a certain TOC - I had to give 6 months notice contractually but I asked if I could reduce it...the result was the TOC threatening to sue me for breach of contract and threatening to sue my new TOC for employing me...
In reality I think they might have been empty threats as I have never heard of anyone actually being sued but is enough to put off people leaving...
It gets quite nasty when you to try to leave. When I left a certain TOC - I had to give 6 months notice contractually but I asked if I could reduce it...the result was the TOC threatening to sue me for breach of contract and threatening to sue my new TOC for employing me...
In reality I think they might have been empty threats as I have never heard of anyone actually being sued but is enough to put off people leaving...
Wait a minute? Is this early release stuff during the probation period or after you've completed it? I thought that after you've finished your two year probationary period, you were free to transfer companies. Also, say if my ideal but extremely unlikely scenario occurred where I was fully qualified at Arriva Trains Northern and decided I want to apply for a qualified driver post at Virgin. Would submitting that application be the start of the six months notice? I mean honestly, how am I suppose to let them know in advance I'm leaving if the job just came up? Could someone explain that to me? Does it take more than six months to change companies? Does the probationary record even matter anymore?
Wait a minute? Is this early release stuff during the probation period or after you've completed it? I thought that after you've finished your two year probationary period, you were free to transfer companies. Also, say if my ideal but extremely unlikely scenario occurred where I was fully qualified at Arriva Trains Northern and decided I want to apply for a qualified driver post at Virgin. Would submitting that application be the start of the six months notice? I mean honestly, how am I suppose to let them know in advance I'm leaving if the job just came up? Could someone explain that to me? Does it take more than six months to change companies? Does the probationary record even matter anymore?
If your contract says 6 months notice then you are in breach of contract if you leave early. If in interview and are asked if you can wing it you won't get the job. If you need to give 6 months notice generally you have been with the current company less than 5 years. I negotiated from 3 months to 1 month without any trouble when I transferred from one to another within the same group.
However I have never known a company to try to claim back anything and I think legally all they can do is withhold your holiday pay, if you are paid 4 weekly I am not certain but nothing can be done. It all depends on the content of your contract.
A friend of mine applied for qualified driver with VT and they were asking for 10 years experience with a clean record at the time.
What if the franchise expires and a new company take over. Let's say if a driver passed his/her final tests this week at Northern... Would Arriva have a leg to stand on asking for 3 more years?
You will still be bound by the terms of your contract as TUPE takes everything with you to the incoming company.