Published on: Thursday, 13 July 2023
Last updated: Thursday, 13 July 2023
The group at Southend Victoria station (credit: Southend Adult Community College)
Refugees, asylum seekers and students studying at Southend Adult Community College were given an insight into the roles available at Greater Anglia during a careers event.
The groups of students, all aged 16 - 26, each had 20 minutes with every team, giving them the chance to learn about jobs on the railway and ask questions too.
Seventeen students were talked through the jobs that the team at Southend Victoria station undertake, from revenue protection (where the team ensure everyone has a correct ticket) to customer service, being a member of platform staff, and what it takes to clean trains.
The group also visited a driver’s cab under supervision, while a train was in the platform, to learn about the importance of safety everywhere on the railway.
The event, held on Monday 26 June, followed on from a first such initiative in 2022, and was facilitated by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership, who are working with Southend Adult Community College to improve social inclusion and career prospects for the student population, including refugees, asylum seekers and students with additional needs.
Alison Jack, the college’s Learning and Progression Coordinator - Study Programmes and Traineeships, said:
“Everyone really enjoyed the day at Southend Victoria and a number of the group were very excited to be allowed into the driver’s seat, along with learning about the rest of the station teams’ roles.
“We give our huge thanks to the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership for setting up the scheme and to Greater Anglia for facilitating the day.”
Catherine Gaywood, Community Rail Partnership Officer, said:
“We were delighted to help the college, giving their students a look at all sorts of careers on the railway, along with helping them all feel more integrated into the Southend area and confident in using trains.”
Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said:
“It was our pleasure to welcome the students from the college as they look to start their working lives and show them all the different things our busy teams do day-in, day-out at Southend Victoria station.”
All available jobs, including early careers opportunities, at Greater Anglia are advertised on the company’s website: www.greateranglia.co.uk/careers, where you can also sign up for job alerts.