People Services Leadership Apprentice

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

Southampton (SO15 1AL)

Closes in 31 days (Friday 31 October 2025)

Posted on 25 September 2025

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Summary

The purposes of the People & Culture Apprenticeship programme is to allow the People Services apprentice to develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in a range of HR activities and specialisms. The apprenticeship will include a CIPD qualification.

• 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: HR support (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday. 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

• Work collaboratively on all people issues, building strong relationships with Managers and Trade Union Representatives.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with SWR Managers
• Provide a proactive HR service to the business by acting as the subject matter expert on all aspects of the employee lifecycle and have an understanding of employee relations case work.
• Maintain HR records, updating colleague details on the HR system covering, employee onboarding and lifecycle.
• Ensure that employee records and associated filing is kept up to date in accordance with general data protection regulations.
• Support the provision of weekly and periodic management information and produce key performance indicators in accordance with ongoing and ad-hoc business needs.
• Assist with monitoring employee dates for returning from extended leave and complete relevant staff change process.
• Provide minute-taking support to Managers when required and ensure adherence to Company and statutory people management procedures.
• Handle conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
• Complete leaver processes including staff changes.
• Attendance Procedure including weekly prompt reports and updating the HR system with any management action taken.
• Prepare and deliver internal presentations and reports.
• Assist the People Services team in maintaining the shared email inbox, answering first contact queries in a timely fashion and escalating any complex issues to the relevant team member or manager for resolution.

Where you'll work

Overline House
Blechynden Terrace
Southampton
SO15 1AL

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

HR support (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Service Delivery: Delivers excellent customer service on a range of HR queries and requirements, providing solutions, advice and support primarily to managers. Builds managers’ expertise in HR matters, improving their ability to handle repeated situations themselves where appropriate. Uses agreed systems and processes to deliver service to customers. Takes the initiative to meet agreed individual and team KPIs in line with company policy, values, standards. Plans and organises their work, often without direct supervision, to meet commitments and KPIs.
• Problem Solving: Uses sound questioning and active listening skills to understand requirements and establish root causes before developing HR solutions. Takes ownership through to resolution, escalating complex situations as appropriate.
• Communication & Interpersonal: Deals effectively with customers/colleagues, using sound interpersonal skills and communicating well through a range of media eg phone, face to face, email, internet. Adapts their style to their audience. Builds trust and sound relationships with customers. Handles conflict and sensitive HR situations professionally and confidentially.
• Teamwork: Consistently supports colleagues /collaborates within the team and HR to achieve results. Builds/maintains strong working relationships with others in the team and across HR where necessary.
• Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities to improve HR performance and service; acts on them within the authority of their role. Supports implementation of HR changes/projects with the business.
• Managing HR Information: Maintains required HR records as part of services delivered. Prepares reports and management information from HR data, with interpretation as required.
• Personal Development: Keeps up to date with business changes and HR legal/policy/process changes relevant to their role. Seeks feedback and acts on it to improve their performance and overall capability.

Training schedule

In addition to an excellent Apprentice Development Programme, the post holder will also be provided with role specific training and development, and CIPD as part of the qualification.

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
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Flexibility

Other requirements

Desirable: A desire to pursue a career in the railway industry. Excellent communication, with the ability to motivate and inspire a team. Proactive and adaptable approach to problem-solving, with a keen eye for detail. Willingness to undergo training and development to enhance skills and knowledge in the role

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 VAC1000343780.

Apply now

Closes in 31 days (Friday 31 October 2025)

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