TFW Recruitment

[John1927]

With the rumours around the nationalisation of TFW and Keolis Amey handing the franchise back to the Welsh Governement.

How will this impact recruitment? Will it bring it to a halt at all?

or is it likely to be carry on as normal?

I’m in the talent pool for Cardiff and seeing the news this morning has thrown up a lot of doubt!

 

[mstrwvr]

I've been given a start date for the end of November, and I'm planning to give my current employer my notice tomorrow morning. My confidence was already shaky with the current economic climate, and last night's new has given me another wobble....

 

[glasgowceltic1]

Hoping it doesn't affect the recruitment but I'm not confident at the news. I'm due to have my DMI after November 2nd but we'll see if that happens now.

 

[THE158]

I've been given a start date for the end of November, and I'm planning to give my current employer my notice tomorrow morning. My confidence was already shaky with the current economic climate, and last night's new has given me another wobble....

How long did it take them to let you know you we’re successful after the interview thanks

 

[Caaardiff]

There's no plan to cut services and there's already a shortage of train crew, especially in the North. There's lots of training that needs to happen as well so its likely additional staff will be needed to free up crews for training.

 

[mstrwvr]

How long did it take them to let you know you we’re successful after the interview thanks

I think they got back to me within 2 days, but had warned me that it often takes longer.

 

[ILoveLamp]

I've been given a start date for the end of November, and I'm planning to give my current employer my notice tomorrow morning. My confidence was already shaky with the current economic climate, and last night's new has given me another wobble....

I suppose it depends how happy you are in your current career and how stable it is. If you decided not to move you at least have your psychometric tests pass you can use when this all blows over.

 

[mstrwvr]

I suppose it depends how happy you are in your current career and how stable it is. If you decided not to move you at least have your psychometric tests pass you can use when this all blows over.

I'm completely miserable in my current career, but it is relatively stable. My start date is for a conductor post, so the psychometric testing issue doesn't really apply.

I'm going to go ahead with joining the railway, I'm just aware that I'm experiencing more trepidation than I might have done if I was accepting the role at a different time. Everyone I've spoken with at TFW assures me they are not worried about jobs.

 

[ILoveLamp]

I'm completely miserable in my current career, but it is relatively stable. My start date is for a conductor post, so the psychometric testing issue doesn't really apply.

I'm going to go ahead with joining the railway, I'm just aware that I'm experiencing more trepidation than I might have done if I was accepting the role at a different time. Everyone I've spoken with at TFW assures me they are not worried about jobs.

Sounds like you will be making the right choice! Go for it!

 

[mstrwvr]

Sounds like you will be making the right choice! Go for it!

Thanks

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Oct 2020 ==

Well, I've just had a quick chat with TFW recruitment confirming everything is going ahead with my start date, and I've put my notice in. No turning back now.

 

[Bradley_246]

Has anyone applied for a trainee conductor role - and any idea the timescales of being shortlisted? Been waiting nearly a month now for a response

 

[TeaTrain]

@Bradley_246 you have asked the same question a few times in different threads. The answer is the same. The railway recruitment process is a long and difficult journey normally. From start to finish it can take anything from 6 months up to two years. A month is unfortunately not very long at all. The best thing to do is apply and carry on in life!

 

[Jacob Didcote]

Has anyone applied for a trainee conductor role - and any idea the timescales of being shortlisted? Been waiting nearly a month now for a response

I've applied for Cardiff depot as trainee too. Just the waiting game now, updates every 4-6 weeks!

 

[TeaTrain]

@Bradley_246 I just noticed you are in Holyhead! I was a guard at Holyhead when it was ATW. Good people at the depot and will look after you well! The entire process for myself at that depot was 6 months application and then 1 year talent pool. It can be different for others of course. Good luck to all!

 

[Bradley_246]

@Bradley_246 I just noticed you are in Holyhead! I was a guard at Holyhead when it was ATW. Good people at the depot and will look after you well! The entire process for myself at that depot was 6 months application and then 1 year talent pool. It can be different for others of course. Good luck to all!

I am yes! Yes I’ve heard it’s a good depot. I’m in the talent bank for TM at Avanti, I think there’s a new drivers depot coming to Holyhead so once that goes ahead hopefully a role will come upThank you !

 

[TeaTrain]

There is a new driver depot for Holyhead I think yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the old hands at hhd move over.

Good luck for your applications. Getting a job on the railway in HHD allows you to live like a king or queen lol.

 

[BrokenSam]

There is a new driver depot for Holyhead I think yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the old hands at hhd move over.

Good luck for your applications. Getting a job on the railway in HHD allows you to live like a king or queen lol.

Two are jumping I believe.

 

[TeaTrain]

I see! I am not surprised. Either way everyone is great there and it’s really like a team. Booking staff, platform, guard drivers and managers. I really enjoyed working at HHD.

 

[Bradley_246]

There is a new driver depot for Holyhead I think yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the old hands at hhd move over.

Good luck for your applications. Getting a job on the railway in HHD allows you to live like a king or queen lol.

Haha yes there are some (not many) benefits of living in Holyhead.
Cheers

 

[TeaTrain]

It’s not a bad place. I grew up there. The amount of open spaces, beaches, day outs and things to do is plenty. The problem is that so many of the main job providers has dried up. The high street is non existent and since Tinto went etc well that was it. The railway and port are the last two in the area.

 

[AgentGemini]

Question re TFW recruitment policy.

Is there a reason why when they advertise 'trainee x' (like, trainee train conductors) they discriminate against qualifieds / people already working on the railway? If someone was looking for a new start, and were willing (and ABLE) to relocate as needed, were willing to take the paycut (average is 32-34k, but trainees are 25.9k) for the probation period and were willing to knuckle down and accept they were trainees again, why would TFW deliberatly discriminate and bar them from applying? It's happened on their recent Cardiff x 2 & Valleys x 3 campaign and has left a few people I know who work on the trains stumped, as they would really rather like to move on. If this sort of filtering out is across the board TOCwise, they may as well leave the railway industry is what one has said. Thanks.

 

[TeaTrain]

@AgentGemini could you be more specific as to what they are discriminating against? What are you qualified to do? A guard for another TOC? I am just trying to understand your post as I would be surprised if on the job advertisement it stated that no other current railway staff are allowed to apply. I guess it could be to do with funding. Can I ask how the information was laid out for you to make this conclusion? I am genuinely interested as my experience has been the opposite and have moved around ATW a lot when it was and also to another TOC entirely. I also know others that have done so. I’m perplexed!

 

[Eccles1983]

TOC's receive money for training people.

That's basically it. A guard can be passed out in a few months. It's not a massive lump to train them.

Also the unions would vent a spleen. In no way would they accept guards taking a paycut for doing exactly the same job in a different area. Furthermore - new guards = new subs to the unions.

Drivers however do cost tens of thousands to train. They also have increased risks when inexperienced so cost wise it makes much more sense to take qualified. A brand new driver takes at least 2 years to be "qualified" in the sense of out of pqa rules and assessments.

 

[AgentGemini]

Hi @TeaTrain.

I myself have little working with the railway. However, I have spoken to my friend who is the one looking to 'escape his current mob' and move to TFW.

He works as traincrew (not driver) for his current employer and has been so for a number of years. Although not a spotless record, he is still working and has no major issues at the moment especially.

He tried to apply through comeaboard.co.uk for the "trainee conductor" positions currently in Cardiff which lead him to the Acorn website. He submitted his CV and filled out a basic contact details form. In his CV he appended that he was willing to relocate if required and his current role, so first thing you would see on his CV, is his traincrew working.

Regardless, Acorn then sifted him to go on and fill out the main application form. It would seem this is done on their website and is a series of questions. However one question asked whether he was already a qualified conductor and when he answered it, it shortcutted to the termination page.

He then proceeded to email Acorn Recruitment direct to enquire as to what was going on, stating that he was willing and able to relocate as he does not have as many considerations as some may (for example, no children, so no schooling etc) plus that he was willing to take a paycut back to the trainee salary for the probationary period.

Acorn Recruitment replied within an hour the following (I am copy pasting, but have also seen a screen shot of the email to confirm information integrity) :


Hi (redacted)

Unfortunately if you are already a qualified train conductor then you are not able to proceed with this application form as this is only for Trainee Train Conductors.

Please visit the TFW website for qualified train conductor roles: http://www.comeonboard.co.uk/

Kind regards,

Needless to say, my friend is in a grim situation and is now seriously thinking of leaving the railway industry, as he fears this sort of discrimination towards qualified staff (apart from drivers. We have seen lots of TOCs cry out for qualified drivers) will become more common, limiting his opportunities as he joined "his mob" when a different owner ran them and the job was a pleasure. Then they were taken over by the current organisation who have a strong anti-guard culture which shows no signs of abating.

 

[SouthWalesSam]

This worries me in a somewhat similar way too, I've applied for Carmarthen & Cardiff depots for Trainee Train conductor, I'm looking to move down to Wales to be with my girlfriend who already resides in Wales (and is Welsh). I had previously applied for conductor with GWR at Exeter (Before I met my girlfriend) I passed the SCAAT, RAAT and Checking tickets fast (But fell at the hurdle that was group assessment, luckily with some good feedback to work on). When I applied there they said to say I live within an hour of the depot as that would be where I would be re-locating to. I applied the same principle with the Acorn TFW and submitted my application, yet to hear back unfortunately but I guess no news is good news! I'm currently on the railway with Southern Railway as Station Control Point at Brighton Station (East Sussex) with dispatch and PTS licences, clean safety record and a fond interest of the railway, luckily with no ties besides parents in Sussex so can move within the notice period that I'd have to give. Just worried that being already on the railway or in a different location is really pushing against me there!

 

[TeaTrain]

I see. Unfortunately some TOCS do prefer to employ from the street as there is government funding. It savethe company money and they also fill job quotas set out by the government. It does seem harsh at times but I think it’s just the way it is.
I remember applying to Virgin to be a driver a few years back. Done everything got to the DMI and they told me ‘oh you have a degree...this is for an apprenticeship’

So because of having a degree I was not given the job! It baffled me at the time but now I understand more of the managerial side of things and how the government plays a role in TOCs. That and unions.

I had to leave the railway to get a Trainee Driver role. Worth it though as TPE have been excellent so far mostly.

 

[sd0733]

Question re TFW recruitment policy.

Is there a reason why when they advertise 'trainee x' (like, trainee train conductors) they discriminate against qualifieds / people already working on the railway? If someone was looking for a new start, and were willing (and ABLE) to relocate as needed, were willing to take the paycut (average is 32-34k, but trainees are 25.9k) for the probation period and were willing to knuckle down and accept they were trainees again, why would TFW deliberatly discriminate and bar them from applying? It's happened on their recent Cardiff x 2 & Valleys x 3 campaign and has left a few people I know who work on the trains stumped, as they would really rather like to move on. If this sort of filtering out is across the board TOCwise, they may as well leave the railway industry is what one has said. Thanks.

If they do now they certainly havent always. I was a qualified guard and applied as a trainee and got the job and just skipped the majority of the course bar induction, routes and traction. I presume it worked out ok for TfW as since then at least 80% of recruits at my depot have been quailified guards from other depots, altough now they just directly advertise for qualifieds

 

[AgentGemini]

Having browsed myself and having done some homework, would this be Crewe? I've observed that often TFW have recruited for Qualified Crewe but everywhere else is Trainee. And if TFW/Acorn are gatekeeping their jobs like this, then other people will be put off. Lots of Qualified Driver calls on TOCs like GWR and Avanti but never specifically such aside from TFW Crewe. Are we entering an age where once you're in, you're stuck with your toc for your whole railway career, albeit as short as such could be?

 

[TeaTrain]

No I don’t think so. There are many people who were guards, booking staff, btp and outside the railway on my course.

 

[sd0733]

Having browsed myself and having done some homework, would this be Crewe? I've observed that often TFW have recruited for Qualified Crewe but everywhere else is Trainee. And if TFW/Acorn are gatekeeping their jobs like this, then other people will be put off. Lots of Qualified Driver calls on TOCs like GWR and Avanti but never specifically such aside from TFW Crewe. Are we entering an age where once you're in, you're stuck with your toc for your whole railway career, albeit as short as such could be?

Yes it is. Its not totally qualifieds as there are 2 off the street guards currently in training schools and another 2 have passed out within the past 6 months. Not sure when or where those were advertised though, I never saw them