Go-Ahead Group plc : Rail Industry Unites to Launch 18-Month Work Placement Scheme

19 January 2012

One in four (26%) people who graduated from university in the last two years have turned down a job offer because they felt they were overqualified or the role wasn't appropriate for them. This startling figure is revealed as more than 25 companies across the rail sector, including Go-Ahead's three rail franchises - Southern, Southeastern and London Midland, have joined together for the first time to help up to 100 graduates get their careers on track by launching a new cross-industry, paid internship scheme.

The scheme, 'Track and Train', will provide an all-round industry experience over 18 months, where graduates will enjoy three, six-month placements: one at Network Rail and two at either a passenger or freight operator or another company within the rail sector. 'Track and Train' will target young people who have graduated in the last two years but owing to the tough economic times have found themselves either unemployed or more likely under-employed in a non-graduate level role.

David Brown, Chief Executive of Go-Ahead, said: "I am very pleased our three rail companies are taking part in this excellent initiative. This programme will allow graduate trainees to understand the partnership between train operating companies and Network Rail to deliver high quality rail services to passengers."

Patrick Butcher, Network Rail's Finance Director, responsible for the scheme, said: "''We know that there are many smart, talented individuals out there who haven't had their break yet and as a growing industry we can work together to provide challenging, valuable and paid work experience to kick-start their careers.

"What sets this scheme apart is those involved will work across the rail industry and by linking it all together, develop a fantastic knowledge and understanding of the challenges we all face and the opportunities for the future."

As thousands of young people start 2012 looking for meaningful work, Network Rail surveyed those who have graduated in the last two years and found:

• Four in ten people (41%) are unsure if they made the right degree choice and a further 14% believe they made the wrong choice.
• Graduates have applied on average for nine jobs since leaving university.
• 8% have been offered no job interviews.
• 65% have been offered between one and three interviews and a quarter (24%) have had more than five interviews.
• 43% have found it extremely hard or hard to narrow down the type of job they are looking for with a further 34% finding it sometimes hard.
• One in five (19%) are not interested in doing voluntary work with a third (33%) only wanting paid work. 19% have already done voluntary work.
• When asked what they think employers value most:
  • 40% said "work experience relevant to the job"
  • 28% "skills relevant to the job"
  • 14% believe that top qualifications are most valued
  • 10% said "where someone went to university" is what employers are most interested in
• 29% believe that a lack of experience most puts of potential employers in an application or interview; 24% say poor spelling and grammar, 16% say lack of research.
• More than one in four (27%) rated their university careers service as "not very Good" or "poor" with a further 34% saying it was "only partly helpful".

Notes to Editors:

• Typical roles in Track and Train will be in network operations, station and train teams, customer service, sales and marketing, route strategy, asset management and project management. There will not be roles in corporate functions such as finance, IT or engineering, where the industry has bespoke graduate schemes already in place.
  
• Additional coaching and mentoring classes will be provided at Network Rail's development centre where those on the scheme will receive advice on how to present a great CV, interview techniques and presentations skills.
  
• People can apply until Friday 27th January 2012 at Midday January 2012 at:
  
  
• The university graduates' survey was conducted for Network Rail by OnePoll - part of the SWNS Group - the UK's largest independent press agency and newswire service. The sample size was 450 people across Britain who have graduated in the last two years, and conducted in December 2011.

FAQ:

• Who is eligible to apply? Anyone who has graduated in the last two years and is not in a graduate level role. This isn't about someone who has had work, and now found themselves unemployed. We're trying to give those who have recently graduated a chance to get their first step on the career ladder.
• When will they start? Applicants need to be available to start on 01 April 2012.
• How much will they be paid? £22k per annum.
• Is there a guaranteed job at the end? No but the experience gained will put them in an excellent position to apply for roles on offer within the rail industry or outside it at that time. Employers value candidates that can demonstrate how they have put the skills learnt at university into practice. This scheme will enable them to do this.

What companies are involved?

• Arriva Trains Wales
• c2c Rail
• Carillion plc
• Chiltern Railways
• CrossCountry
• DB Schenker Rail
• Department for Transport
• East Coast
• East Midlands Trains
• Eurostar
• Eversholt Rail (UK) Ltd
• First Group (First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First TransPennine Express, Scotrail,)
• Freightliner
• Greater Anglia (Abellio)
• London Midland
• London Overground Rail Operations
• London Travelwatch
• Merseyrail
• Network Rail
• Northern
• South West Trains
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Transport for London - London Underground

For further information, please contact:

The Go-Ahead Group
Samantha Hodder, Interim Group Corporate Affairs Director 020 7821 3927