Training - Trainee Driver for Northern Sheffield

[Kylie88]

Hi,

I'm just looking for a bit of general information really about the trainee driver positions at Northern.

I have recently passed my assessment day and received an email from Northern to say well done and they will be in touch with a course start date. I haven't had a medical yet but I imagine they will tell me about that at the same time and I'm not too worried about that.

I've read that there are people on hold for the training courses, am I going to end up being really disappointed and not offered a job? How much notice do they usually give you of when the training course will start?

Is the training for Northern all done at Leeds? Would I be travelling to Leeds everyday for the training or do they let you stay somewhere? I don't mind either way really, just curious.

If there is any other information that you could give me it'd be greatly appreciated. I'm so excited to start but I am a little worried that I'm building myself up for disappointment.

 

[Orchid]

Hi. Well done for passing. Fortunately for those of you in the dreaded talent pool it appears Northern have a lot of vacancies coming up over the next few years, so your chances of getting in are good.

Notice regarding training courses varies, you might get a few weeks or a month but it has been known for people to get a phone call on the Friday to see if they can start on Monday. Not sure how often that happens for external candidates who have notice to work but it certainly happens for internals.

Your classroom training and initial traction training will be done in Leeds, you will travel there each day (no hotel allowance for Sheffield staff) but you will book on and off at Sheffield so the travelling time is included in your working day. That will be mon-fri 9-5 (ish) and last for approx 17 weeks before you go back to Sheffield for your practical training which will last for a few months.

 

[Kylie88]

Thanks for your help. I have emailed the HR department about the notice I need to give as there's no way my current employer would let me leave early and it's a lot longer than most people have to give unfortunately

Thanks for the other info, I really hope I hear back soon! Do you think there are many people who get in to the talent pool and then never actually get a job?

 

[Orchid]

I suspect it probably happens and there will be a few threads on here no doubt from people who have been in a talent pool in perpetuity. It is a pretty cruel aspect of the recruitment process but probably unavoidable due to the long lead times, high demand and ever changing plans and staff requirements.

But you are in a good position in that Northern have a lot of recruitment planned for all these extra services which are promised - it's not a finger in the air recruitment exercise.

The fact they will have several courses planned should work in your favour with regards your long notice period, it will make it easier to slot you in somewhere.

 

[karl998yr]

Hi,

I'm just looking for a bit of general information really about the trainee driver positions at Northern.

I have recently passed my assessment day and received an email from Northern to say well done and they will be in touch with a course start date. I haven't had a medical yet but I imagine they will tell me about that at the same time and I'm not too worried about that.

I've read that there are people on hold for the training courses, am I going to end up being really disappointed and not offered a job? How much notice do they usually give you of when the training course will start?

Is the training for Northern all done at Leeds? Would I be travelling to Leeds everyday for the training or do they let you stay somewhere? I don't mind either way really, just curious.

If there is any other information that you could give me it'd be greatly appreciated. I'm so excited to start but I am a little worried that I'm building myself up for disappointment.

Congrats. you are now in the same position i am. i am also an on hold candidate for trainee driver at sheffield. i passed the assessment centre on June 30th and am still no wiser. i have queried how long before a medical and start date etc but northern have been unable to tell me.
i have read some comments on some threads on here though that have mentioned some training commencing in september.
i dont know how many candidates are required to fully populate a training course but maybe you and others that have had assessments this past week have contributed to filling a course and something might be heard sooner rather than later. Its only a theory but who knows.

 

[posh]

Congrats. you are now in the same position i am. i am also an on hold candidate for trainee driver at sheffield. i passed the assessment centre on June 30th and am still no wiser. i have queried how long before a medical and start date etc but northern have been unable to tell me.
i have read some comments on some threads on here though that have mentioned some training commencing in september.
i dont know how many candidates are required to fully populate a training course but maybe you and others that have had assessments this past week have contributed to filling a course and something might be heard sooner rather than later. Its only a theory but who knows.

Congratulations both of you, fantastic position to be in. I have my assessment this Wednesday for Northern Sheffield and know there are also courses next week (as I had to rearrange my original assessment date to this week). Hopefully it is a case of just needing a few more successful candidates over the next couple of weeks to fill a course in the near future. I am getting nervous now but keeping my fingers crossed for Wednesday. Thanks.

 

[tommo1097]

Congratulations both of you, fantastic position to be in. I have my assessment this Wednesday for Northern Sheffield and know there are also courses next week (as I had to rearrange my original assessment date to this week). Hopefully it is a case of just needing a few more successful candidates over the next couple of weeks to fill a course in the near future. I am getting nervous now but keeping my fingers crossed for Wednesday. Thanks.

Hi posh.

Is that your assessment day your through to now? As in group bourdon tests etc?

Congratulations and good luck again.

 

[posh]

Hi posh.

Is that your assessment day your through to now? As in group bourdon tests etc?

Congratulations and good luck again.

Cheers mate. Yes, but I have passed the written part of the assessment day with another TOC - so hopefully should be just doing the computer and SJT/MMI part of the assessments on Wednesday.

 

[tommo1097]

Excellent, good luck with everything.

 

[garethbell24]

Hi there congrats to all on passing.

I too have passed the psychometric assessment day for Sheffield trainee driver position on the 23rd of June. I am still non the wiser about course start dates. I too have let Northern know my notice period which is a month so I am lucky in that department. I was told that in order to fill a course it is a first passed first served system. So looking at your assessment pass dates then I would suspect that we may be loaded onto the same course.

I find it hard to believe that having jumped through so many hoops thus far that they just don't know when courses are running. Its incredibly frustrating, however I was assured that Northern need to appoint hundreds of new drivers with the signing of the new contract.

On another note if Northern rail don't take us on, then I read somewhere that the psychometric assessment is valid for 5 years, is it then a transferable ticket to another toc if all else fails?

Cheers and it would be great to keep in contact having just found this forum online and a couple of hopeful names that I could potentially be on course with in the not too distant future.

Fingers and toes crossed to us all!

 

[Red Devil]

Garethbell, welcome to the railway!
Northern are taking on that many drivers and trying to run that many courses that they don't know if they're coming or going.
Railway HR runs like no other you may be familiar with. And as I've mentioned on other threads patience is what is required.

 

[bonelorry]

Simply put, Not enough Trainers OR training facilities at the moment in Leeds.

A new course has started literally every 4 Weeks since April with 12 candidates on each, I think currently there are only 5 Trainers in Leeds each doing a 16 Week course.

Also the DTM's at Sheffield and Leeds are full to capacity due to how many Trainee Drivers are waiting to do their Final Part C Assessments etc.

Patience is key I am afraid.

 

[Megatracker]

Yo all, same here for me. I passed my interview and assessments in june and recieved an email from northern. I've rang them last week in regards to course dates etc and was told the same as everyone else. I guess we all just have to play the waiting game ;p
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also garath, i'm sure you was on my assessment day in manchester haha

 

[Red Devil]

To all the future trainees it's a waiting game from now on in. Waiting for a course,waiting for 15hrs with a dtm, waiting for an instructor! It goes on.
I'm an instructor myself and have had trainee after trainee! Could do with a week on my own to remember how it's done!
Look at it this way you've waited this long as bit more won't harm.

 

[bonelorry]

To all the future trainees it's a waiting game from now on in. Waiting for a course,waiting for 15hrs with a dtm, waiting for an instructor! It goes on.
I'm an instructor myself and have had trainee after trainee! Could do with a week on my own to remember how it's done!
Look at it this way you've waited this long as bit more won't harm.

Yup, I have been waiting for a Month to do my Conversions and should be doing them this Week. Hopefully doing my 15 Hours the Week after then out with my minder! Cannot wait

 

[garethbell24]

Yo all, same here for me. I passed my interview and assessments in june and recieved an email from northern. I've rang them last week in regards to course dates etc and was told the same as everyone else. I guess we all just have to play the waiting game ;p
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also garath, i'm sure you was on my assessment day in manchester haha

hi there mega tracker passed on 23rd June, which candidate were you if you? if you want to connect via facebook, if you have it, then please add me. Looking at all the correspondence we may be on course together in the not too distant future. I just remember you all by which industry you came from, what job are you transitioning from?

 

[tommo1097]

Medical and course dates all set up now, anyone else in same position?

 

[Nigell]

passed the process and are on hold , does this mean a definite job or do some people never get in?

 

[Crow238]

Hi Tommo. When did you find out about yours medical and course please? When you have a course? Also when you passed your assesment please. I'm still on hold ??????

 

[posh]

Tommo is for the hull depot. I'm for Sheffield and still on hold as well. Fingers crossed things will start to move for Sheffield as well soon.

 

[tommo1097]

Hi Tommo. When did you find out about yours medical and course please? When you have a course? Also when you passed your assesment please. I'm still on hold ��

Passed assessment august 24th.

Got a call to say i was on medical 6th sept and course date starts 19th sept.

 

[Kylie88]

Passed assessment august 24th.

Got a call to say i was on medical 6th sept and course date starts 19th sept.

Wow they don't give you much notice!

 

[sennaf15]

Hope do that with me, passed my assessments on the 31st August and now got the annoying wait,....yet again for the medical lol. My current employer owes me over a week in toil and approx 3-4 weeks leave. That would cover my notice should a course come up at short notice.

 

[Crow238]

Has anybody heard anything about Sheffield courses comming up soon yet?

 

[bonelorry]

Passed assessment august 24th.

Got a call to say i was on medical 6th sept and course date starts 19th sept.

Good luck and well done, Now the hard work starts for the next Year!

Worth it though

 

[tommo1097]

Good luck and well done, Now the hard work starts for the next Year!

Worth it though

Thankyou very much.
Monday morning it begins, so happy and excited!

 

[Megatracker]

Yeah still not heard anything for the Sheffield course yet

Getting quite annoying not knowing when it's going to be..

 

[W00dy]

Thankyou very much.
Monday morning it begins, so happy and excited!

I had my assessments June with a medical in August and I too start tomorrow, see you there

 

[tommo1097]

I had my assessments June with a medical in August and I too start tomorrow, see you there

Excellent see you there

 

[garethbell24]

Happy days to those already loaded on course. I take it you are both for Hull depot. If so Northern HR must be concentrating on that depot at the moment.