TPE: First Group UK Careers: 6 Trainee Driver opportunities arise

[Evolution]

I’ve just had the same email. I wonder if the roles will now be pulled?

 

[142Pilot]

More than likely.

There is a stampede of qualified drivers heading tpe way.

To be blunt their is no reason for them to go to the bother of a trainee course when they can plunder Northern for a while.

 

[Evolution]

More than likely.

There is a stampede of qualified drivers heading tpe way.

To be blunt their is no reason for them to go to the bother of a trainee course when they can plunder Northern for a while.

That makes sense, are a lot of drivers leaving Northern for TPE?

If so why? Better pay and rolling stock?

 

[142Pilot]

That makes sense, are a lot of drivers leaving Northern for TPE?

If so why? Better pay and rolling stock?

Pays a bit better, and not many drivers are actually fussed about what type of train they drive - there is a systemic failure of management at Northern. It's an unpleasant atmosphere with the DOO strikes and general mistrust between staff and management.

Generally drivers leave for a change from intensive diagrams to a bit more easier work. It's not as big a step up as people think. Proper intercity work at virgin is the top echelon, TPE is middle tier stuff.

Ironically TPE took a load of northern managers as well so it could be transfering a problem.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Pays a bit better, and not many drivers are actually fussed about what type of train they drive - there is a systemic failure of management at Northern. It's an unpleasant atmosphere with the DOO strikes and general mistrust between staff and management.

Generally drivers leave for a change from intensive diagrams to a bit more easier work. It's not as big a step up as people think. Proper intercity work at virgin is the top echelon, TPE is middle tier stuff.

Ironically TPE took a load of northern managers as well so it could be transfering a problem.

Oh well on the plus side it may get Northern to pull their fingers out about the jobs they advertised in May. Perhaps.

 

[Evolution]

Pays a bit better, and not many drivers are actually fussed about what type of train they drive - there is a systemic failure of management at Northern. It's an unpleasant atmosphere with the DOO strikes and general mistrust between staff and management.

Generally drivers leave for a change from intensive diagrams to a bit more easier work. It's not as big a step up as people think. Proper intercity work at virgin is the top echelon, TPE is middle tier stuff.

Ironically TPE took a load of northern managers as well so it could be transfering a problem.

Ah right, it doesn't sound too good by the sounds of it!

I suppose it could open the door to trainees if qualifieds are leaving.

 

[Evolution]

I just received an email saying this vacancy has now been closed/pulled.

In other words they’ve recruited qualified drivers from other TOCs/FOCs and no longer have a need for any trainees.

A waste of everyone’s time who submitted an application basically.

 

[Mike121]

I was invited for assessments for the job next week. I can’t go though.

 

[Evolution]

I was invited for assessments for the job next week. I can’t go though.

Was that for a trainee driver role?

 

[Mike121]

Was that for a trainee driver role?

Yes for trainee

 

[Chuggington21]

Maybe pulled them for the depot you applied for

 

[MostlyHarmless]

I just received an email saying this vacancy has now been closed/pulled.

In other words they’ve recruited qualified drivers from other TOCs/FOCs and no longer have a need for any trainees.

A waste of everyone’s time who submitted an application basically.

Had the same email - however I was anticipating this after they said they were putting the application on hold until November

Edit - I applied for the York depot

 

[tiptoptaff]

Not really a waste of everyone's time, as some people have been invited to assessment. Likely just that your depot got pulled.

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Not really a waste of everyone's time, as some people have been invited to assessment. Likely just that your depot got pulled.

That's my take on it although if that is the case it would be nice to be able to ask to be considered for an alternative depot. I might ping them an email to see if that is possible

 

[Evolution]

Had the same email - however I was anticipating this after they said they were putting the application on hold until November

Edit - I applied for the York depot

Yes I expected it too after the on hold email, I applied for York also.

 

[Evolution]

Not really a waste of everyone's time, as some people have been invited to assessment. Likely just that your depot got pulled.

Has anyone been invited to the assessment who isn’t internal or qualified?

 

[Mike121]

I am internal

 

[tiptoptaff]

Has anyone been invited to the assessment who isn’t internal or qualified?

There's at least one in this thread, although I can't say if they're an Internal....they are

I get you're frustrated but dust off and move on. This happens in the railway.

Edit-the poster in question replied while I was typing

 

[Evolution]

I know of an ex FOC driver who has been taken on at York last month.

So I think it would be fair to assume they’ve filled this position with qualifieds/internals.

 

[tiptoptaff]

I know of an ex FOC driver who has been taken on at York last month.

So I think it would be fair to assume they’ve filled this position with qualifieds/internals.

I don't see an issue with this. It's what suits them best. Taking on known entities over unknowns

 

[Evolution]

I don't see an issue with this. It's what suits them best. Taking on known entities over unknowns

Sure I understand that but that doesn’t get away from the fact that as an external it was a waste of time if you were out of the race before it started.

I get that this isn’t unusual with railway recruitment.

 

[tiptoptaff]

Sure I understand that but that doesn’t get away from the fact that as an external it was a waste of time if you were out of the race before it started.

I get that this isn’t unusual with railway recruitment.

I don't think that's true. Trust me they wouldn't bother to advertise if they didn't need to.

 

[Paddy67]

Absolutely disgraceful to make us jump through all these hoops to just shaft us like this but no surprise what so ever either! When I see people on here worrying because they have been offered a job with one TOC but have a possibility of going to a better TOC and feel guilty about mucking about a company in order to earn potential 10,000s more. Just remember how companies have no hesitation what so ever to make ruthless decisions in their interest to our detriment so why should you be any different! Who is going to suffer more you earning £10,000+ less a year plus the better work content etc or a multi billion pound company who is temporarily a vacancy short there are thousands of people queuing up to fill???

 

[Trainguy90]

Chances are they simply filled the positions, 1000’s of people go for these roles and you can fall down at a number of stages. Putting people through the process isnt a cheap venture for companies so they aren’t advertising for the sake of it.
It is annoying but for every successful applicant theres probably at least 100 people who’ve had the “thanks but no thanks” email, some companies dont even provide people with one of them
Just keep your cool and if its meant to be, your time will eventually come.

 

[Paddy67]

Chances are they simply filled the positions, 1000’s of people go for these roles and you can fall down at a number of stages. Putting people through the process isnt a cheap venture for companies so they aren’t advertising for the sake of it.
It is annoying but for every successful applicant theres probably at least 100 people who’ve had the “thanks but no thanks” email, some companies dont even provide people with one of them
Just keep your cool and if its meant to be, your time will eventually come.

They filled the positions with qualified drivers. There was an assessment day in Preston last Thursday for qualifieds. That is why they made us wait out ''till the end of November'' we were only there as an emergency back up, very cynical way of doing things. I didn't get a ''thanks but no thanks'' I got told that the vacancy was now filled, obviously by the qualifieds that they interviewed last Thursday. So I doubt very much there was even 1 out of 100 more like 0 out of 100! Absolutely PATHETIC

 

[Tractor2018]

I got told that the vacancy was now filled, obviously by the qualifieds that they interviewed last Thursday.

Those interviews were for qualified positions. So if you applied for that job number as a trainee you should spend more time reading the specification properly and less time whining - then you'd save everyone around you some headache.

 

[Lengthman]

The qualified drivers who went last thursday haven’t been informed yet. Even at the first assessment days TPE couldn’t confirm how many positions were available.
Unfortunately in the railway nothing is certain until you receive a start date and contract. If you want the job enough, it’s a case of perseverance and patience.
When I got my first drivers job I passed everything, did my medical and when I phoned HR to get a start date, the job was pulled. I had to then wait 18 months for a start date.

 

[Paddy67]

Those interviews were for qualified positions. So if you applied for that job number as a trainee you should spend more time reading the specification properly and less time whining - then you'd save everyone around you some headache.

If you spent more time reading the title of this thread and less time whining you would know that I had applied for the Trainee number and not the qualified. Instead you chose to make a fool of yourself by sticking your nose into something you don't know about so your headache is much deserved!

 

[MostlyHarmless]

Those interviews were for qualified positions. So if you applied for that job number as a trainee you should spend more time reading the specification properly and less time whining - then you'd save everyone around you some headache.

The vacancy was for trainees... I applied too. Obviously they decided to fill it with qualifieds, but I had a feeling it was going to be pulled after they sent an email in Oct saying it was on hold. A bit annoying but not a big deal

 

[Paddy67]

The vacancy was for trainees... I applied too. Obviously they decided to fill it with qualifieds, but I had a feeling it was going to be pulled after they sent an email in Oct saying it was on hold. A bit annoying but not a big deal

Yeah I got that bad gut feeling when I got told about the interviews for qualifieds couple of weeks ago. As I said in my original post take it as a lesson that they are brutally ruthless as to what's best for them so don't hesitate in being the same and worry about mucking them about to do what's best for you! Lest we forgot the whole East Coast fiasco where folk had handed their notices in only to then get binned and they topped up with qualifieds instead!