Received talent bank email today. Don’t see the point of being strung along for almost 2 years then get a talent bank email. Seems pointless really frustrating recruitment process. Assessed for a job that doesn’t exist yet and they are still advertising for new trainee roles. Has anyone received this previously and actually got a job?
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Scotrail Trainee Drivers (Ongoing)
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garto123
Member
I applied for the trainee train driver in March 2024, not the (talent bank) version that is posted now. From what I hear, it is a completely new set of tests that you sit.
I just don't understand how I have been put in the talent bank when that's not the advert I applied for, and there has been no mention of this being a possibility for the last 2 years.
I have a friend who applied the same week as me and to the same advert as myself and he moved a few months faster than I did, and he is now in the training school.
This seems very unclear and unfair.
I just don't understand how I have been put in the talent bank when that's not the advert I applied for, and there has been no mention of this being a possibility for the last 2 years.
I have a friend who applied the same week as me and to the same advert as myself and he moved a few months faster than I did, and he is now in the training school.
This seems very unclear and unfair.
My opinion on it all is that it’s maybe a generic email. From what I am made to believe, there is still a large amount of drivers required due to impending retirements and or vacancies coming up. What is frustrating though is that this has changed the goalposts to what I was originally told after my interview last year. I was under the impression I would be starting anytime after April 2026. Also, the mention now of a two year limit to the process is alarming given what I was previously told.
It’s been a frustrating process. I still think it’s a generic email, that maybe shouldn’t of been sent to us but if they have changed the criteria with how long they are keeping names on the list then maybe they had to do it that way.
Does anyone know how many courses ran specifically from AC last year? Was it one per month? The lack of comms around that is the most frustrating part. They communicate, but it’s generic and lacks any detail to put your at ease with the process. If we knew there were courses every month from April 2026 onwards that would put most of our minds at rest.
It’s been a frustrating process. I still think it’s a generic email, that maybe shouldn’t of been sent to us but if they have changed the criteria with how long they are keeping names on the list then maybe they had to do it that way.
Does anyone know how many courses ran specifically from AC last year? Was it one per month? The lack of comms around that is the most frustrating part. They communicate, but it’s generic and lacks any detail to put your at ease with the process. If we knew there were courses every month from April 2026 onwards that would put most of our minds at rest.
Ducaticam
Member
I e-mailed about Yoker a couple of weeks ago and got told to just go ahead and book holidays.
garto123
Member
When did you pass your last state?. I am also waiting for Yoker
I'm the same, not sure what to make of the email but I hope to still get a start this year
Ducaticam
Member
I passed my final ( MMI ) at the beginning of December 25'
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Is he Yoker depot?
garto123
Member
Yeah, He started in November 2025. I was maybe 3 months behind him as his process just moved faster than mine, but we both applied to the same advert
My guess is this is pretty accurate, the depots that were posted must only have up to a years worth in the bank and those that were not posted may have over a years worth waiting !
Probably thousands of applications
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Just received acknowledgment email of application and they are shortlisting based on commute distance, age being at least 20, and maximum attempts at driver assessment not being exceeded. So the minimum criteria.
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Adammfc23
Member
Just curious how this whole talent bank works as I passed my DMI in August but I live within 1 hour of 4 different depots. Have I been pigeonholed because I pasesed my DMI already and if so is a DMI a part of the talents bank process as I thought all that was left was a medical? Rather confused by all this now and quite annoyed putting holidays on the back burner just incase a waste of 2 years
Absolutely, and certainly worth an email. I'm sure there are plenty of folk within the 1hr radius, especially the central belt. You could be disadvantaged based on which depot pool you're in, as opposed to passing all selection criteria and date of passing. Although DMIs were carried out at depot level, they must all be to the same standard with identical pass/fail criteria, irrespective of which depot. Accordingly anyone living in Glasgow would be eligible for several depots, and likewise someone in the Ayr pool could be within Glasgow's reach.
The SR email did invite recipients to contact them with any queries. Good luck getting a reply.
garto123
Member
I have email my HR contact who I have been dealing with all the way through my assessment process twice now and I have had zero replies. Their communication is appalling. Goal posts moved at the last hurdle and left with more questions than answers.
mikeccccccc
Member
I replied directly but also to everyone else on the HR team. Feels like desperation at this point.
Applied in 2024 myself and to be told we're now being put on a 2 year Talent pool feels like a kick in the gut.
Does anyone know within the 2 year talent pool we'll be given jobs? Or is it a case if they don't have enough places, by the end of 2 years we're all just booted away??
Victor Meldrew
Member
Plenty of talk that Sunday as part of the working week is being shelved due to cost. Might lead to a slow down on recruitment at places like Yoker/Motherwell that have loads of trainees that will take them well over compliment by the end of the year.
garto123
Member
If that is the case and you are due to go there, then why not offer a different station that isn’t so over staffed rather than leave people hanging?. I’m sure anybody on here would chose a slightly longer commute to work than being stuck in a talent pool for months on end.
It’s not just about vacancies being open as well, there’s a shortage of driving instructors. Some depots have much lower numbers of staff compared to others. A lot of other TOCs use talent banks and it makes sense, unfortunately it’s rubbish for people waiting 100%.
That's interesting! I haven't heard anyone talking about that yet. The last thing our LLC put out was in the autumn saying that the company has permission from the Scottish government to make an offer but nothing has been put out by them since then. Though recruitment for trainees is definitely slowing down for this year where I am. I've heard that some of the depots in the central belt work like 1 in 2 Sundays so they'd lose a lot of money unless it was an offer worth matching that, so maybe the goverment can't afford it.
DennyDriver
Member
How much is gained from a Sunday shift?
kickin aff
Member
- Joined
- 16 Oct 2015
- Messages
- 174
It's your hourly rate plus a Sunday booking on fee of just over £100. Maybe topline for a Sunday around £400 give or take.
At my depot we are booked to do around 14 a year.
At my depot we are booked to do around 14 a year.
lgibson
New Member
Hi there, I have just done the Aon assessment. Which is brand new. I have been told I didn’t meet the requirements. Out of the 4 tests. I got 3 wrong in total. So I have no clue how it is scored. I have asked for feedback which I’ve been told aon don’t provide. Which I am so disappointed in. Tests that are done at the assessment centres comes with feed back. So you know which section you failed on. How do you know what to improve on if no feedback is given.
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I only think I got 3 wrong as it tells you you are wrong during the test*
DennyDriver
Member
For the current adverts?
I done a speculative application in January after a careers event last year, I then passed the aon assessment last month. I haven’t applied for a specific depot, but I had put my local one. Assuming this now means I’ll just go into the talent bank? The Last email just said they will contact me with the next steps.