Trainee Ground Staff / Timber Strapper (Carlisle)

Make your mark with Colas Rail UK 

At Colas Rail, differences matter. Join a team where being your authentic self is respected, encouraged, and vital to our success. At Colas Rail you'll be at home. You'll be welcomed into an inclusive team where there's a role for every talent and a close-knit, familial culture. You will also get the opportunity to help us transform transportation, set new standards, and dare to be different. 

This is true because...

• We value everyone as part of the same team.
• We treat everyone as equals - and everyone is approachable, from the CEO down. 
• We put you in control of your career to lead and grow in any way you want. 
• We have a culture of care, from safe working environments to diversity and inclusion.
• We're renowned for innovation, adopting new ideas, and daring to be different. 
• We are building a more sustainable future and our projects impact infrastructure for generations. 

About Us 

Step into the world of Colas Rail, where a century of expertise merges with a daring spirit to shape the future of rail infrastructure. 

At Colas Rail, we deliver transport solutions for sustainable mobility. We are a leading rail infrastructure business with on track plant and freight capabilities. As a subsidiary of the Colas Group, we are part of over a hundred years' experience in delivering major innovations across our sector. Every day, thousands of trains run on tracks built, designed, or maintained by Colas Rail. 

Leading by our Values

Our values, Respect, Commitment, Pioneering and Sharing are at the heart of everything we do. These values feed into our main strategies and accompany us daily in realising our ambitions. 

We Respect our employees, celebrate diversity and foster a culture of safety, care and respect for everyone we interact with. We care about our employee’s wellbeing and create an environment of inclusivity and support.

We Commit by showing up wholeheartedly. When we commit together, we invest in everyone’s success. We invest in our customers, our teams and our colleagues, and we lead with safety, integrity, passion, purpose, ethics and transparency.

We Share as we all hold knowledge that could and should be shared, enabling us to grow and making us a strong collective. We have a passion for excellence, celebrating achievements and nurturing talent. 

We Pioneer to push boundaries, imagine what does not yet exist and dare to do what others do not. We innovate with ambition, and we find solutions.

Even if you don't meet every requirement, please don't rule yourself out, we still encourage you to apply if your skills, values, and experience align to the role.

Purpose of the Role

After successful completion of training you will be able to prepare freight trains for service, facilitate movements to and from the operational Railway and control freight train movements in a defined area of responsibility.

Where will I be located?

Carlisle

Key Responsibilities

After successfully completing training, you will undertake the following duties:

• Ensure freight train and associated wagons are correctly prepared for service.
• Ensure freight train and associated wagons are correctly disposed of when not in service and /or left unattended.
• Assist train driver with brake continuity testing.
• Complete train documentation e.g. Train preparation certificate, Train certificate of readiness and up-date T.O.P.S as required. 
• Carry out shunting and train preparation duties, including Coupling/uncoupling of wagons and locomotives.
• Carry out load examination duties to railway industry standards.
• Carry out shunting and train preparation duties, including 
• Operate ground frames and hand points as required to facilitate train movements.
• Undertake technical examination of rolling stock.
• Assist maintenance/servicing staff undertaking maintenance/servicing activities, as required where competent.
• Work various shift patterns including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
• Must be prepared to lodge away from home, when required.

• Ensure the highest level of professionalism when dealing with other individuals within the company, clients and members of the public.

• Be proactive and tenacious towards health and safety.

• Able to work in a logical manner, good communication, commercially aware with the ability to remain vigilant in charging surroundings.

• Detaching crippled or unsafe rolling stock including unsafe or dangerous loads.

• A proven safety record and the ability to work with little direct supervision.

• Challenging un-safe working practices.

• Meeting and keeping up to date with all industry standards.

• Ensuring the highest level of safety at all times, not taking risks or short cuts at any time no matter how routine the task is.

• Communicate with others involved with train movements/operations to ensure all parties have a clear understanding of the task.

• Check and double check all basic processes e.g. points, routes, brakes Scotches, loads, fouling points and speed.

• Working shifts and reporting any fatigue or other issues to your line manager than may affect the safe operation of trains.

• Being prepared to deal with any out of course incidents.

• Act in a courteous and professional manner at all times.

• As you will expect the organisation may change from time to time and you will be expected to meet the operational requirements. 
• Any other reasonable duties as required from time to time. 

Job Specification

The job holder will be Reliable, punctual and trustworthy.

What we Offer

Competitive Salary
26 days Annual Leave
Industry leading Life Assurance
Healthcare Cash Plan
Wellbeing Employee Assistant Programme
Pension Scheme
Eye Care Vouchers
Long Service Award
Season Ticket Loan
Occupational Health Service

 
This is an exciting opportunity to build a career in the rail industry. We’d particularly encourage applications from women, or those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We believe that diversity drives innovation and creativity, and we actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, valued and respected. Regardless of background, disability, age, race, religion, or gender, everyone is welcome at Colas Rail. 

We strive to promote equity and eliminate discrimination, actively seeking to create a workforce reflective of communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, offering flexible and inclusive adjustments to the interview process. 

As part of a positive action drive to address under-representation we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010.

We are proudly part of the Disability Confidence Scheme, and as such we operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you meet the minimum requirements. 

On joining Colas Rail you’ll have access to our growing Employee Network Groups including Railbow (representing the LGBTQ+ community), BeyonDisability (representing those with disabilities) and Cross Culture (representing people from ethnic backgrounds). Everyone is welcome to join our network groups whether you are part of the community or an ally.

Work life balance is important to us; flexible working options are available where feasible and dependant on the role. Please discuss this during the interview process.

Join us in making a positive impact! Apply and be part of a team that values diversity and embraces unique perspectives.