South Western Railway sets out to recruit more women drivers

South Western Railway (SWR) is committed to closing the gender gap in the rail industry with a new recruitment campaign aimed at increasing the number of women train drivers. 

Only 8% of SWR’s train drivers are women, in line with the national average. SWR is committed to increasing representation and will shortly be opening applications for vacancies in Farnham, Fratton, Waterloo and Weymouth.  

To support the recruitment drive and to encourage women to consider a fulfilling career on the railway, SWR has released a new video, featuring three women drivers - Gemma, Yasel and Sally, who share their experiences, career journeys and personal and professional benefits of the role.

Gemma, who previously worked as a Guard and in the NHS, says that she finds the railway like no other place to work. Opportunities are also available to those without any previous rail experience. Yasel transitioned from a background in quality control and mechanics and says that train driving is a fulfilling career offering the flexibility to make it easier for her to plan family occasions, holidays and childcare.

Sally is one of 11 women train drivers based at Wimbledon depot and came to the railway after a career driving London buses. She was the first person to drive one of SWR’s new Arterio trains in service and has recently become a Driver Instructor, training the next generation of drivers.

She says “It’s more than just a job, it’s a career with lots of different opportunities. I’m now a Driver Instructor, which has been one of the most memorable accomplishments of my career so far”.

Fraser Dawson, SWR’s Recruitment Business Partner said:

“Our people are our greatest asset, and we’re committed to fostering a more diverse and inclusive organisation, where everyone is recognised and represented. We want to encourage applications from all sections of the community. By opening doors to more women, we gain a wider talent pool, fresh perspectives and experience to help shape the industry for the future.

“Our latest recruitment campaign showcases our inclusive, flexible workplace culture, the benefits and the development opportunities available – no matter where people are in their career journey. If you’ve ever wondered about working in rail, take the leap and join us on this exciting journey.”

No previous rail experience is necessary – SWR’s comprehensive training programme equips trainees with the skills, knowledge and practical experience to help them on their training journey. Once accepted for training at SWR’s Basingstoke campus, candidates must complete various training milestones including a minimum of 225 hours of driving with a Driving Instructor. In total, trainees will go through 18 months of training before qualifying as drivers.

SWR also partners with industry-wide programs including Routes into Rail, inspiring the next generation of rail professionals, and hosts a Women Drivers Network, providing access to networking opportunities and forums that advocate for the career development of women in the industry.

SWR will shortly be opening applications for their trainee train driver talent pools for Farnham, Fratton, Waterloo and Weymouth depots. These are sought after roles and the application process can close fairly quickly due to the volume of applications received. Potential candidates should register for job alerts on the FirstGroup careers page: https://careers.firstgroup.co.uk/brand-swr to get immediate notification of when these and further talent pools for driver roles at other depots open.