Apprenticeship at GWR

Start Your Career with GWR Apprentice

Earn. Learn. Build Your Future.

At Great Western Railway (GWR), you'll do more than start a job; you'll start a career. Every day, millions of people rely on us to connect them with the people and places that matter most, and as an apprentice, you'll play a part in making that happen.

Why Choose a GWR Apprenticeship?

At GWR, you'll earn while you learn, gaining a competitive salary from day one, nationally recognised qualifications, and the skills and experience to build a rewarding long-term career.

As a GWR apprentice, you'll also enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including free travel across the GWR network, making it easier to get to work, explore the region, and visit friends and family.

We're proud to be the first UK train operator to achieve Platinum accreditation for our apprenticeship programme, with more than 300 apprentices developing their careers across our network. It's recognition of our commitment to developing the next generation of rail professionals.

Whether you're passionate about delivering great customer service or fascinated by how trains work, we have an apprenticeship that's right for you.

Choose Your Path

Customer Service Apprenticeship (18 Months)

 If you enjoy meeting new people and making a difference every day, our Customer Service Apprenticeship is the perfect place to start.

 Over 18 months, you'll gain hands-on experience across a variety of roles at our stations and onboard our trains, including:

• Station Operations
• Gateline
• Customer Host
• Ticket Office
• Revenue Protection

No two days are the same. You'll build confidence, develop exceptional customer service skills, and help create memorable journeys for thousands of customers every day.

Engineering Apprenticeship (4 Years) 

Love solving problems, working with technology and understanding how things work?

Our Engineering Apprenticeship will equip you with the knowledge, qualifications and practical experience needed to become one of GWR's engineers of the future.

Working alongside experienced engineers, you'll learn how to:

• Service and maintain our trains
• Diagnose and repair faults
• Keep our fleet operating safely and reliably
• Develop practical engineering skills in a real working environment

Alongside your hands-on experience, you'll achieve:

• Level 2 Engineering Qualification
• Level 3 Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Qualification

Learning Beyond the Workplace

As part of both apprenticeship programmes, you'll attend dedicated study days at Exeter College, where you'll work towards your nationally recognised qualification alongside other GWR apprentices. 

You'll also have the opportunity to complete the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award, helping you develop confidence, leadership, teamwork and valuable life skills that will benefit you throughout your career.

Whether you're in the classroom, out on an expedition, or learning on the job, you'll gain experiences that help you grow both personally and professionally.

More Than Just an Apprenticeship

A GWR apprenticeship is more than gaining a qualification; it's the start of a long-term career. You'll be supported by experienced colleagues, learn from industry experts, build lasting friendships, and have plenty of opportunities to grow and progress within one of the UK's leading train operators.

If you're ready to challenge yourself, develop new skills, and build a career you can be proud of, we'd love to hear from you.

Your journey starts here. Join GWR and help shape the future of rail.