SWR Guard to Commercial Guard - How? When?

[Lewis5949]

Soon I'll be starting with SWR as a Guard. I've heard varying information about when I could expect to become a Commercial Guard. Hopefully some here have made that transition!

1) Is the move to Commercial Guard 'automatic' or do I have to internally apply?

2) If automatic, at what point does that happen, and if I have to apply, can I apply any time or is it only when they release an internal job advertisement for it?

3) How long is the additional training and where? I hear it's two weeks, is that back at Basingstoke again? I believe the only difference is ticketing so I wouldn't think it would need to happen as Basingstoke?

4) Is ticketing (and the routes you'll operate on) truly the only difference between the roles or is there more to it than that?

Thanks to anyone who can shed any light!

 

[RJM]

Soon I'll be starting with SWR as a Guard. I've heard varying information about when I could expect to become a Commercial Guard. Hopefully some here have made that transition!

1) Is the move to Commercial Guard 'automatic' or do I have to internally apply?

2) If automatic, at what point does that happen, and if I have to apply, can I apply any time or is it only when they release an internal job advertisement for it?

3) How long is the additional training and where? I hear it's two weeks, is that back at Basingstoke again? I believe the only difference is ticketing so I wouldn't think it would need to happen as Basingstoke?

4) Is ticketing (and the routes you'll operate on) truly the only difference between the roles or is there more to it than that?

Thanks to anyone who can shed any light!

1/2. No, you have to apply for the Commercial Guard role internally. You can only apply when they release an internal advert for the role. You have to carry out two additional assessments down at Southampton (ticket checking and ticket selling); pass those and you’ll have an interview with the hiring manager; pass that and you’ll have a promotional medical and job offer. Having done the two roles myself, I’d recommend you get at least a years experience in the guards role first before looking at applying for commercial.

3. Two weeks for the commercial course at Basingstoke, followed by a day or two on the job coaching with another Commercial Guard.

4. Pretty much yes! And the increased salary!

 

[Lewis5949]

1/2. No, you have to apply for the Commercial Guard role internally. You can only apply when they release an internal advert for the role. You have to carry out two additional assessments down at Southampton (ticket checking and ticket selling); pass those and you’ll have an interview with the hiring manager; pass that and you’ll have a promotional medical and job offer. Having done the two roles myself, I’d recommend you get at least a years experience in the guards role first before looking at applying for commercial.

3. Two weeks for the commercial course at Basingstoke, followed by a day or two on the job coaching with another Commercial Guard.

4. Pretty much yes! And the increased salary!

Thank you for your answers! I was somewhat expecting the answer to 1/2 as TfL operates in a similar way going from CSA 2 to 1. What I am surprised by is having another interview and medical. Thankfully coming from TfL I have extensive National Rail ticketing knowledge which should help!

Odd that it's in Basingstoke and training can't be done more locally with ticketing. And two weeks too? Dang. Although TfL staff don't sell tickets, the training there, if I remember right, is only two days! Thanks again for taking your time to answer me, good to know!

 

[aQmIj]

Hi!
Was you in a LU ticket office?

 

[Lewis5949]

Hi!
Was you in a LU ticket office?

I wish, those were the days! No I was a CSA 1 in Zone 1

 

[aQmIj]

What was the salary for that grade if you don't mind me asking?

 

[RJM]

Thank you for your answers! I was somewhat expecting the answer to 1/2 as TfL operates in a similar way going from CSA 2 to 1. What I am surprised by is having another interview and medical. Thankfully coming from TfL I have extensive National Rail ticketing knowledge which should help!

Odd that it's in Basingstoke and training can't be done more locally with ticketing. And two weeks too? Dang. Although TfL staff don't sell tickets, the training there, if I remember right, is only two days! Thanks again for taking your time to answer me, good to know!

The Commercial Course is delivered by one of the customer service trainers based at the training school in Basingstoke (the ROC), hence why it isn’t done locally. Providing the course hasn’t changed too much since I did it (3 years ago), it’s a very thorough course followed by quite a long assessment at the end.