Avanti Talent Bank Job

[STIRL1408]

Hey all!

I got great news that I got the onboard customer service job with Avanti on 10th May, based out Glasgow Central.

However, a catch I didn't know about. The position was a 'talent bank' and I never thought of what that meant.

Avanti said I was successful and that I'm on the reserve list for the talent bank academy in Crewe. The job is mine but I have to wait for it to become available. Said I don't need to do anything or reapply and that they will be in touch, it's almost been a month and they also said I'm on the talent bank list for a year.

For any Avanti staff... Will I be waiting a while? And why do they advertise a position when it's not currently available? This is a dream job and so hard waiting not knowing.

Any hints or advice appreciated xx

 

[2857]

Hi,

It's always hard waiting in a talent bank, I personally have done it twice and both times they have led onto a full time role with Virgin/Avanti. The talent bank is used to provide flexibility for the recruitment team but generally speaking it's emptied before any new recruitment starts. Unfortunately there isn't any way of telling how long you'll wait but I'm sure you'll be with us soon enough.

 

[Horizon22]

Congrats on being successful! I would have thought the job would have been advertised as a talent bank, or "future opportunities" or a "talent pool" or similar as this is a very common industry procedure.

As for waiting, unfortunately it's how long is a piece of string? It could be weeks it could be months. Some TOCs have a reputation for being a bit disorganised with the talent pool so a gentle nudge 3-4 months from now to check on an update might be reasonable. Normally it does lead to something, but it's never guaranteed.

 

[STIRL1408]

Hi,

It's always hard waiting in a talent bank, I personally have done it twice and both times they have led onto a full time role with Virgin/Avanti. The talent bank is used to provide flexibility for the recruitment team but generally speaking it's emptied before any new recruitment starts. Unfortunately there isn't any way of telling how long you'll wait but I'm sure you'll be with us soon enough.

Thank you so much for the reply. It's reassuring when you said that they'll empty the talent bank candidates before a new recruitment. Hopefully date soon, definitely an exciting role!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2025 ==

Congrats on being successful! I would have thought the job would have been advertised as a talent bank, or "future opportunities" or a "talent pool" or similar as this is a very common industry procedure.

As for waiting, unfortunately it's how long is a piece of string? It could be weeks it could be months. Some TOCs have a reputation for being a bit disorganised with the talent pool so a gentle nudge 3-4 months from now to check on an update might be reasonable. Normally it does lead to something, but it's never guaranteed.

Thank you and yeah the job had talent bank in brackets beside it but silly me never looked up what it meant. The job description said would you like to be part of the team etc..

At least I got the job, just need to wait for a start date. I'm on the talent bank list for a year so hopefully not going to take that long

 

[1rnjnjmc]

Hey all!

I got great news that I got the onboard customer service job with Avanti on 10th May, based out Glasgow Central.

However, a catch I didn't know about. The position was a 'talent bank' and I never thought of what that meant.

Avanti said I was successful and that I'm on the reserve list for the talent bank academy in Crewe. The job is mine but I have to wait for it to become available. Said I don't need to do anything or reapply and that they will be in touch, it's almost been a month and they also said I'm on the talent bank list for a year.

For any Avanti staff... Will I be waiting a while? And why do they advertise a position when it's not currently available? This is a dream job and so hard waiting not knowing.

Any hints or advice appreciated xx

Thats brilliant! I have my 3 hour block at glasgow central on Thursday. Very nervous! Im particularly nervous about the 1 on 1 interview but any advice or insight would be much appreciated.

Are you still on the waitlist? Thank you! X

 

[43066]

Avanti said I was successful and that I'm on the reserve list for the talent bank academy in Crewe. The job is mine but I have to wait for it to become available. Said I don't need to do anything or reapply and that they will be in touch, it's almost been a month and they also said I'm on the talent bank list for a year.

For any Avanti staff... Will I be waiting a while? And why do they advertise a position when it's not currently available? This is a dream job and so hard waiting not knowing.

Any hints or advice appreciated xx

Not to be negative - it’s very likely that you will be offered a position - but the job certainly isn’t “yours” until you’ve signed and returned a contract, and been given a start date. That’s the whole point of a talent bank: if their business needs change, they could simply not offer you a position, and you’d wash out of the talent bank by default after the one year period.

Hence don’t do anything that jeopardises your current position until you’ve signed and returned said contract!

 

[phixl]

I'm going nuts waiting for a position to be offered! I am on the talent bank for platforms dispatch. It's been nearly 4 weeks

 

[p.d87]

I'm going nuts waiting for a position to be offered! I am on the talent bank for platforms dispatch. It's been nearly 4 weeks

Unfortunately 4 weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of things. Be prepared to wait a while longer. It will all depend who's 1st in line from the talent bank. It may be you. It may not. The recruitment is done on a points based system so whoever scored the highest is the person offered a role first when they come up.

 

[phixl]

Unfortunately 4 weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of things. Be prepared to wait a while longer. It will all depend who's 1st in line from the talent bank. It may be you. It may not. The recruitment is done on a points based system so whoever scored the highest is the person offered a role first when they come up.

Thanks for that. Were you engaged through a talent bank? If so how long did you have to wait?

 

[GPR]

There are some people who are in the Avanti mainline driver talent bank and started the process Feb 2023 and entered the talent bank probably 12 months ago so the piece of string can be quite long.

 

[phixl]

There are some people who are in the Avanti mainline driver talent bank and started the process Feb 2023 and entered the talent bank probably 12 months ago so the piece of string can be quite long.

Gulp! I just have to hope the turnover is higher for csa jobs!

 

[p.d87]

Thanks for that. Were you engaged through a talent bank? If so how long did you have to wait?

I was a year waiting.

 

[phixl]

I was a year waiting.

wow!

 

[JP65]

I’m in the talent bank (since May just gone) for the onboard customer service assistant role based at Liverpool, 4 months have gone by.

They have however just put out this job today. It sounds the same really but is it the same job? If so is it safe to assume they’ll be going through the talent bank I’m currently in and this is for different talent bank further down the line?

Catering Assistant - On Train · First Trenitalia West Coast Rail

Please note: We may close this advert early if we receive a strong response, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please do not apply if yo...

www.careers.avantiwestcoast.co.uk

 

[Kamkh]

I’m in the talent bank (since May just gone) for the onboard customer service assistant role based at Liverpool, 4 months have gone by.

They have however just put out this job today. It sounds the same really but is it the same job? If so is it safe to assume they’ll be going through the talent bank I’m currently in and this is for different talent bank further down the line?

Catering Assistant - On Train · First Trenitalia West Coast Rail

Please note: We may close this advert early if we receive a strong response, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please do not apply if yo...

www.careers.avantiwestcoast.co.uk

Have you heard anything? I have been in the talent bank for the same job at Preston now for 6 weeks. Its so frustrating just waiting! Im so eager to start!

 

[TheVicLine]

I've always considered talent pools to be a complete waste of time, the TOCs shouldn't be allowed to use them. TOCs frequently interview people and put them in talent pools for 12 months without employing them. They also re advertise for the same positions when there are people in the talent pools.

 

[Ellwill]

I've always considered talent pools to be a complete waste of time, the TOCs shouldn't be allowed to use them. TOCs frequently interview people and put them in talent pools for 12 months without employing them. They also re advertise for the same positions when there are people in the talent pools.

Not with Avanti but I've been waiting ten months by now. Any time I email in asking what's happening I get a cookie cutter response basically reiterating that they'll be in touch when a vacancy opens.

With seemingly so many candidates sitting in talent pools one must question why may TOCs would rather use agency staff to cover gateline roles...

 

[JP65]

Have you heard anything? I have been in the talent bank for the same job at Preston now for 6 weeks. Its so frustrating just waiting! Im so eager to start!

Still waiting and have been since the end of May.

During the interview December/January time was mentioned as they’re increasing services or something from Liverpool. I was told the previous talent bank was exhausted so there’s a good chance this one will be as well.

 

[Beanman29]

I've been waiting in the talent bank since June for the Wolverhampton CSA, 4 months now encounting...

 

[JP65]

Has anyone had any updates on their positions?

3 months left in the talent bank and the clock is ticking. Is there anyone you can ask for rough updates?

 

[Beanman29]

Has anyone had any updates on their positions?

3 months left in the talent bank and the clock is ticking. Is there anyone you can ask for rough updates?

Maybe send recruitment a quick email for an update, they might be able to give you the information you need.

 

[phixl]

Has anyone had any updates on their positions?

3 months left in the talent bank and the clock is ticking. Is there anyone you can ask for rough updates?

what role? I'm also waiting for Liverpool - 6 months now

I've kind of given up - started looking into becoming a teacher

 

[JP65]

what role? I'm also waiting for Liverpool - 6 months now

I've kind of given up - started looking into becoming a teacher

Liverpool, on board customer service assistant

 

[phixl]

Liverpool, on board customer service assistant

I went for that one too - didn't get onto the bank after the face-to-face interview, sadly. Interesting that you're still waiting! It's tough to deal with.

 

[Toby268]

Just want to tag onto this thread as i understand the frustration and anxiety around waiting. I was in the talent pool for close to a year. You will get the call out of the blue one day and it will be worth it. Hang in there, be patient. The last few years there’s been a lot of hiring and a lot of depots are fully staffed, but internal movement happens often and people leaving etc.

 

[phixl]

Just want to tag onto this thread as i understand the frustration and anxiety around waiting. I was in the talent pool for close to a year. You will get the call out of the blue one day and it will be worth it. Hang in there, be patient. The last few years there’s been a lot of hiring and a lot of depots are fully staffed, but internal movement happens often and people leaving etc.

thanks for that

 

[Scotty Dog]

A friend of mine was in the Talent Pool for a Drivers vacancy, also told for 12 months. He was first on list and guaranteed a job.
10 months later there were two drivers vacancies and he heard nothing and they were offered to external applicants responding to the two jobs been advertised.

He contacted Avanti on hearing this and heard nothing back.

 

[phixl]

A friend of mine was in the Talent Pool for a Drivers vacancy, also told for 12 months. He was first on list and guaranteed a job.
10 months later there were two drivers vacancies and he heard nothing and they were offered to external applicants responding to the two jobs been advertised.

He contacted Avanti on hearing this and heard nothing back.

How awful!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Feb 2026 ==

You will get the call out of the blue one day

Did they literally call you? Not email?

 

[Dawn poly]

Have you heard anything? I have been in the talent bank for the same job at Preston now for 6 weeks. Its so frustrating just waiting! Im so eager to start!

Same waiting for on board csa Preston coming up to 7 months now

 

[ayub95]

Unfortunately I've been in the talent bank for now over a year, haven't got a call/email and the same role at Birmingham New Street has been advertised again. Looks like will have to apply again...