First Great Western - Trainee Drivers

[gb76]

Got a conditional job offer for Bristol today, pending a medical which should be Ok.

Absolutely over the moon. A boyhood dream come true. Plan to spend the rest of my working life in this role.

Start in April.

Great news! Well done, I had my medical yesterday and a phonecall this morning offering me a Jan start
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Hi all!

Long time lurker first time poster here

I had an interview for trainee driver based at Westbury, back in September and had a conditional offer followed by a medical on the 22nd November.
I'm supposed to start on the 6th of Jan but i've still not heard any more, like where to go or what times etc. Anyone else here starting soon?

It's more of a concern to me because i'll be moving over 160 miles and I need to get my accomodation in order! Gulp!

Best of luck to those applying and congrats to those who've made it!

Kringle

Well done Kringle. I have just had the call saying I start on Jan 6th also. Looking forward to it.

 

[james956]

Is here anyone else on here that had their telephone interviews last week and has still not heard back? They told me I would be hearing back within a week and it's now been over that. A bit worrying that a few of you heard back on the very same day saying you had been successful!

 

[Septus]

Is here anyone else on here that had their telephone interviews last week and has still not heard back? They told me I would be hearing back within a week and it's now been over that. A bit worrying that a few of you heard back on the very same day saying you had been successful!

Not to kill your optimism but I have received an email today, inviting me to select a date for the first stage assessment centre.

 

[james956]

Not to kill your optimism but I have received an email today, inviting me to select a date for the first stage assessment centre.

Literally just after I wrote my last comment I had the e mail inviting me to assessment! Happy days! Ive booked myself in for the 17th.

 

[Septus]

Literally just after I wrote my last comment I had the e mail inviting me to assessment! Happy days! Ive booked myself in for the 17th.

Nice one

Just booked myself in for the 17th also...see you there!

 

[Tfemark]

Hi all, had my telephone interview last Tuesday with an email the same day to say I passed, but still waiting for dates for first assessment for trainee train driver for Reading, my question is: is this normal to be waiting a week later? as the original job advert said that assessments will be taking place between 9th and 20th December.
Many thanks, and congrats to those that have received their conditional offers
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Nice one

Just booked myself in for the 17th also...see you there!

Hi may I ask what area you have applied for?

 

[Septus]

Hi may I ask what area you have applied for?

Trainee Oxford, had my phone interview last Tuesday, got email confirming I had passed same day, to then just get email confirming assessment centre dates today.

BTW there were 4 dates to pick from, 2 in Dec and 2 in Jan, which differs slightly from the original advert as you mentioned.

 

[ctufudgey]

Well, the last month has been very interesting!

Sat Stage 2 tests in early November (MMI was scheduled to be included but wasn't carried out on that day for various reasons). A week later I was informed I had passed Stage 2 tests and was invited back for MMI.

Last week I was invited to the Stage 3 DM interview at Gloucester, which took place on Monday this week, and yesterday I was made a conditional offer for Gloucester. Date wise, I am scheduled to be on the course starting in April.

Am really chuffed and would like to say thank you to anyone who has posted info about the process. I have been a lurker really on here during all of this...

I have to say I have been surprised at how fast the last two stages have progressed, given what others have been saying. Just shows that FGW are on a determined major recruitment spree!

Anyhow, really looking forward to starting (hopefully...) - bring on the medical!

 

[Johncleesefan]

Well done and hope it all goes well for u. When did u sit stage 2. Mine was swindon on 13th nov and still waiting for results

 

[ultra4]

Does anyone know what is the reason for the recruitment on such a massive scale (i.e. retirements, dismissals, transfers)?
Any idea how many vacancies there are at FGW, they did not mention it in job offer?

 

[gb76]

Does anyone know what is the reason for the recruitment on such a massive scale (i.e. retirements, dismissals, transfers)?
Any idea how many vacancies there are at FGW, they did not mention it in job offer?

I applied in April and it took ages for stage one and 2 to go though. since then after every other stage (3 and medical) i have had a phone call the next morning. the main reason for this is because they were short on training drivers and driver managers in the summer and have now recruited more. They want get people onto the Jan course asap and then the people who can't start in Jan and any other candidates they take on will start in April.

I don't know how many they are taking on but the figure of 10 was banded around a bit on my interview.

 

[Trne123]

Got a conditional job offer for Bristol today, pending a medical which should be Ok.

Absolutely over the moon. A boyhood dream come true. Plan to spend the rest of my working life in this role.

Start in April.

Congratulations!

Still crossing fingers here.

Out of interest, did main HR contact you about DM outcome or did the Bristol office call you? Just wondered how it works.

Well done.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well, the last month has been very interesting!

Sat Stage 2 tests in early November (MMI was scheduled to be included but wasn't carried out on that day for various reasons). A week later I was informed I had passed Stage 2 tests and was invited back for MMI.

Last week I was invited to the Stage 3 DM interview at Gloucester, which took place on Monday this week, and yesterday I was made a conditional offer for Gloucester. Date wise, I am scheduled to be on the course starting in April.

Am really chuffed and would like to say thank you to anyone who has posted info about the process. I have been a lurker really on here during all of this...

I have to say I have been surprised at how fast the last two stages have progressed, given what others have been saying. Just shows that FGW are on a determined major recruitment spree!

Anyhow, really looking forward to starting (hopefully...) - bring on the medical!

Congratulations and well done on making it through!

Just the medical now then, and at least with an April start date it's plenty of time for notice period.

I'm waiting for the result of my DM interview - trying to be patient and mostly not succeeding.

Any lurkers on here that had recent DM interviews? Would be good to hear how your all getting on.

Good luck everyone

 

[Maybe]

Had mine last weds in Bristol, but am yet to hear anything as yet which doesn't fill me with too much hope as I've seen people who where successful have been told who also had interviews that week.

 

[Kringle]

I was informed on my interview that Westbury alone needed 18 drivers as part of the agreement over electrification.

 

[ultra4]

Well done and hope it all goes well for u. When did u sit stage 2. Mine was swindon on 13th nov and still waiting for results

God! That's 2 weeks before mine. The waiting seems endless...
Some of us knew the results after just a week.

 

[Johncleesefan]

I have justthis minute called hr and had to leave a message and I have emailed them too. Hope fully get a response soon

 

[bacooke1987]

Good evening, I have got my dm interview on Wednesday 11th for reading. Any tips, advise or any remembered questions asked would be muchly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Tfemark]

Passed my phone interview a week ago last Tuesday and still waiting for dates for my first assessments, I actually live in Tenerife at the moment but re locating back to the UK, have English address etc but need a bit of notice to attend assessments etc so wondering if I should contact them or not?

 

[trojan22]

had my DM interview on wednesday and now anxiously waiting for a reply. any ideas how long the wait will be?

 

[Bluebri]

Passed my phone interview a week ago last Tuesday and still waiting for dates for my first assessments, I actually live in Tenerife at the moment but re locating back to the UK, have English address etc but need a bit of notice to attend assessments etc so wondering if I should contact them or not?

I believe emails are going out for the 1st assessments as we speak. I got mine two days ago. Dates offered were 18th/19th December in Reading and 9th/16th January Swindon. Hope that helps and that you are successful. Good luck.

 

[Edward123]

I had my dm interview a week ago in bristol and have not heard anything yet. Has anybody else had any news

 

[Septus]

Just thought of a couple of queries/questions, I don't think I have read anywhere on these forums.
Is there anyone here who could answer them?

Anyone know what the official FGW travel time between home and place of work is?
I currently live in South Staffs and travelling to Oxford, takes approx 1hr 30mins.
I am willing to relocate, so knowing the max. travel time, would help me start looking for a potential place.

Salary, training-wise is 24k rising to 40k+ upon becoming 'Qualified', I'm assuming there are 'milestones' which you will reach, which will then result in you get a slight rise, rather than just jump from 24k to 40k in one jump. Is this correct? If so anyone know approx when each 'milestone' is and what rises can be expected?

Thanks

 

[SkinnyDave]

Just thought of a couple of queries/questions, I don't think I have read anywhere on these forums.
Is there anyone here who could answer them?

Anyone know what the official FGW travel time between home and place of work is?
I currently live in South Staffs and travelling to Oxford, takes approx 1hr 30mins.
I am willing to relocate, so knowing the max. travel time, would help me start looking for a potential place.

Salary, training-wise is 24k rising to 40k+ upon becoming 'Qualified', I'm assuming there are 'milestones' which you will reach, which will then result in you get a slight rise, rather than just jump from 24k to 40k in one jump. Is this correct? If so anyone know approx when each 'milestone' is and what rises can be expected?

Thanks

Hour and no intermediate salary

 

[trojan22]

im still waiting myself and i had mine on wednesday just gone. Id like to know like you too. hope it went well

 

[Kringle]

Let me expand on SkinnyDave's brief but accurate response.
Salary is correct and it'll rise straight to full money when you drive your first route.
And FGW expect you to be within 1 hour of your depot within 6months of joining.

Hope that helps.

 

[Septus]

Let me expand on SkinnyDave's brief but accurate response.
Salary is correct and it'll rise straight to full money when you drive your first route.
And FGW expect you to be within 1 hour of your depot within 6months of joining.

Hope that helps.

Thanks!

 

[Daveg72]

I live about 1hour 15 minutes from Reading - I am at the final DM interview stage at Reading next week and at each stage I have asked them if they think that I live too far away and every time they have said that it will be fine as long as I think that I can cope with the traveling.

Annoyingly I only live 25 minutes away from Bristol but I have never seen any Bristol trainee vacancies available.

 

[Kringle]

Well with a bit of luck, when youre successful in your application and you get your foot in the door youre allowed "one free move to another depot". Whatever that means! I have heard that the Westbury drivers have been covering bristols work so they may be short on staff.

 

[SkinnyDave]

Let me expand on SkinnyDave's brief but accurate
response.

I was on the move multitasking whilst replying to the ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well with a bit of luck, when youre successful in your application and you get your foot in the door youre allowed "one free move to another depot". Whatever that means! I have heard that the Westbury drivers have been covering bristols work so they may be short on staff.

There is a lot of expansion happening with more services and preparation for IEP services, the training schools are very busy at the moment.
You can move once to another depot once you have done two years after passing out or alternatively put your name at the end of very long lists to join HSS depots. It's going to be an interesting few years at Great Western but a great time to join.
There are a lot of internal staff moving to the driving grade therefore should be lots of opportunity to join the company in another role first then look to move over later.

Best of luck to you all in the process it is worth the agonising wait to get there.

 

[KT530]

Just thought of a couple of queries/questions, I don't think I have read anywhere on these forums.
Is there anyone here who could answer them?

Anyone know what the official FGW travel time between home and place of work is?
I currently live in South Staffs and travelling to Oxford, takes approx 1hr 30mins.
I am willing to relocate, so knowing the max. travel time, would help me start looking for a potential place.

Salary, training-wise is 24k rising to 40k+ upon becoming 'Qualified', I'm assuming there are 'milestones' which you will reach, which will then result in you get a slight rise, rather than just jump from 24k to 40k in one jump. Is this correct? If so anyone know approx when each 'milestone' is and what rises can be expected?

Thanks

Basic once qualified just under £44k. Sundays (which are outside working week) are paid at 1.25 x basic rate