Readiness & Resilience Apprentice

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

London (SE1 9LQ)

Closes on Friday 31 October 2025

Posted on 22 September 2025

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Summary

This is a rare and exciting chance to be part of a new team working across both South Western Railway and Network Rail’s Wessex Route. Improve how these two organisations prepare for challenges and bounce back from disruptions - like bad weather, technical issues, special events or emergencies.

• Wage:

  Competitive

  Competitive wage offered

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Increase in year 2 on successful completion of year one

• Training course: Associate project manager (level 4)
• Hours: Monday - Friday with some flexibility for special events and emergencies. Shifts TBC.

  37 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 14 September 2026

• Duration:

  2 years

• Positions available:

  1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Support whole SWR/NR Wessex readiness for major events
• Assist the development of the SWR/NR Wessex testing and exercise regime
• Assist the function as required in times of crisis, e.g. by acting as a trained loggist within the Crisis Management Team.
• Ensure actions are properly documented and updated
• Attend industry meetings as required to ensure Readiness & Resilience representation
• Support with the production of various operational and resilience documentation
• Assist with lessons learned activity post major events
• Support command and control for pre planned events, e.g. as a “command team advisor”

Where you'll work

30 Stamford Street
London
SE1 9LQ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

Training course

Associate project manager (level 4)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Use project monitoring and reporting techniques to track, interpret and report on performance.
• Manage and engage with stakeholders.
• Influence and negotiate with others to create a positive outcome for the project.
• Resolve conflict as and when required with stakeholders within limits of responsibility.
• Adapt communications to different stakeholders.
• Communicate and support the project vision, to ensure buy in to the project objectives.
• Collate and analyse information and provide input to support negotiations relating to project objectives.
• Monitor and analyse project budgets.
• Review and provide feedback on a project business case to ensure the project remains valid.
• Apply change control processes to support the management of project scope.
• Evaluate an integrated project management plan to provide recommendations on areas for improvement.
• Prepare, monitor, and schedule activities that contribute to the delivery of the overall project schedule and objectives.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on the risk management plan to threats to delivery and recommend solutions.
• Identify and monitor project risks and issues; and plan and implement responses to them.
• Deliver a Quality Management Plan which contributes to quality control processes.
• Use an organisation’s continual improvement process including lessons learned to improve performance.
• Support the preparation or maintenance of a resource management plan for project activities.
• Work with stakeholders to deliver the project.
• Use digital tools and software to meet project objectives for example research, collaboration, presentations, and resolution of problems.
• Provide underpinning data to support the written submission through the governance process.
• Work within the approved project budget.
• Ensure that integrated schedules support critical path analysis, interface management, resource forecasting and risk management.
• Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.
• Use data to inform decisions on actions to take to mitigate risks on project.
• Use configuration management and change control to schedule and maintain projects.
• Manages resources through the project lifecycle.
• Use project monitoring and reporting techniques to track, interpret and report on performance.
• Manage and engage with stakeholders.
• Influence and negotiate with others to create a positive outcome for the project.
• Resolve conflict as and when required with stakeholders within limits of responsibility.
• Adapt communications to different stakeholders.
• Communicate and support the project vision, to ensure buy in to the project objectives.
• Collate and analyse information and provide input to support negotiations relating to project objectives.
• Monitor and analyse project budgets.
• Review and provide feedback on a project business case to ensure the project remains valid.
• Apply change control processes to support the management of project scope.
• Evaluate an integrated project management plan to provide recommendations on areas for improvement.
• Prepare, monitor, and schedule activities that contribute to the delivery of the overall project schedule and objectives.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on the risk management plan to threats to delivery and recommend solutions.
• Identify and monitor project risks and issues; and plan and implement responses to them.
• Deliver a Quality Management Plan which contributes to quality control processes.
• Use an organisation’s continual improvement process including lessons learned to improve performance.
• Support the preparation or maintenance of a resource management plan for project activities.
• Work with stakeholders to deliver the project.
• Use digital tools and software to meet project objectives for example research, collaboration, presentations, and resolution of problems.
• Provide underpinning data to support the written submission through the governance process.
• Work within the approved project budget.
• Ensure that integrated schedules support critical path analysis, interface management, resource forecasting and risk management.
• Apply relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and ethical guidance where appropriate to their work.
• Use data to inform decisions on actions to take to mitigate risks on project.
• Use configuration management and change control to schedule and maintain projects.
• Manages resources through the project lifecycle.

Training schedule

In addition to an excellent Apprentice Development Programme, the post holder will also be provided with role specific training and development, e.g. accredited training with the Business Continuity Institute.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Analytical skills
• Team working
• Flexibility

Other requirements

Desirable A desire to pursue a career in the railway industry. Flexibility – this apprenticeship may involve early or late shifts and travel to other areas on our network. Excellent communication, with the ability to motivate others Great interpersonal skills to support building up own understanding of the structure of SWR and NR Wessex. An ability to work collaboratively within the joint Readiness & Resilience team Highly organised Excellent IT skills An ability to challenge constructively Be willing to go through security vetting

About this employer

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

https://careers.southwesternrailway.com/jobs/search (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent) 75% discount on many other train operating companies Excellent pension scheme

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Multiple opportunities for progression on completion of the apprenticeship.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BABINGTON BUSINESS COLLEGE LIMITED

swrapprenticeships@swrailway.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000343072.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 31 October 2025

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