FAQs

Our degree requirements are a minimum of a 2.2 honours degree for all our graduate entry points. For some of the courses we have additional requirements in terms of UCAS points and/or accredited degree courses - see below for details.

 

Function	Specific Requirements
Civil Engineering	Institute of Civil Engineering (ICE) accredited degree (either undergrad OR masters OR both) and 300+ UCAS points.
Electrical Engineering	Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) accredited degree (either undergrad OR masters OR both).
Mechanical Engineering	Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE) accredited degree (either undergrad OR masters OR both) and 280+ UCAS points
Property - General Practice	RICS accredited degree and 280+ UCAS points.
Property - Planning & Development	RICS accredited undergraduate degree or a Masters in Planning, Development or a related subject and 280 UCAS points.
Contracts & Procurement (Surveyor Route)	RICS accredited degree and 260+ UCAS points
Contracts & Procurement (General Route)	280+ UCAS points
Finance	320+ UCAS points
Information Management (Grads and IPs)	280+ UCAS points
Project Management	300+ UCAS points
Strategic Planning	300+ UCAS points
Operations Management	240+ UCAS points

Energetic, intelligent, tough-minded, smart individuals. People seeking rewarding and worthwhile careers which offer the chance to do something useful and make a real difference. Radical thinkers who would thrive on the challenge of bringing in change and prepared to question the status quo.

All graduates are welcome to apply to the Graduate Development Programme regardless of age, although it is worth noting that our Programme is designed for graduates with little or no work experience.

Most graduates spend some time trackside as part of their training, which will require meeting certain physical standards. We need individuals who are physically fit and able to go on the track unaided. We therefore cannot recruit individuals who have a physical disability who would be unable to perform this part of the role. It is not possible to request a purely office bound programme. For engineers there are issues for those who are colour blind (especially red/green) in that we can only provide restricted career development opportunities.

Network Rail is an A-rated Sponsor under Tier 2 of the UK Immigration Points Based System (PBS). If you require a visa to work in the UK, or would like further information on the PBS, enter the UK Border Agency's website. Please be aware that Network Rail will not provide financial support for any visa application.

 

Please note you will need to have the correct work permit in place prior to joining our programme in the late summer / autumn of 2012. If you require a work permit to work in the UK, we recommend you start the application process as early as possible.

We expect to recruit approximately 100 graduates from all degree disciplines split as follows- approximately 50 engineers and 50 non-engineer based roles.

• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Property (Planning & Development)
• Property (General Practice)
• Contracts & Procurement (Surveyor Route)
• Contracts & Procurement (General Route)
• Project Management
• Operations Management
• Finance
• Information Management

We own and maintain the tracks, signals, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, level crossings and stations of Britain's railway network. We provide access to the tracks and stations for all passenger and freight trains, timetable their movements and operate the signalling as they move on the network.

 

Our task is to deliver a reliable and safe rail network that meets the demands of all our customers and stakeholders. Our chief customers are the TOCs (Train Operating Companies) and FOCs (Freight Operating Companies) who run train services over Network Rail's network.

We offer many benefits including:

 

Salary: £24, 500

 

With Inner London allowance: £26, 900 (Employees working at a Network Rail location within a 16-mile radius of Charing Cross)

 

With Outer London allowance: £25, 890 (Employees working at a Network Rail location over 16 miles and up to 40 miles from Charing Cross)

 

Welcome bonus: £3,000

 

28 days annual holiday excluding public holidays

 

75% discount on season tickets up to a maximum of £2,250 in addition to an interest free season ticket loan

Our graduate scheme is for entry into the company in August, September and October 2012, depending on the graduate programme scheme. Therefore we do need people to be free to take up a job by the start of September as we require everyone to experience a common induction event. Our closing date for receipt of applications is 19 December 2011.

We do not have a formal scheme where applicants may defer employment with us, as we are unable to guarantee graduate opportunities year on year. However for those who do well at the assessment centre we might be able to look favourably on individual cases.

You can specify your preferred place of work when you apply but we cannot always guarantee that you will be based there. Our training schemes require a certain amount of flexibility as courses are held nationwide and placements are not always strictly local to the main offices.

You receive a welcome bonus of £3000 to help you settle into Network Rail; therefore entrants joining on the graduate scheme do not receive additional relocation expenses.

 

Following on from an intensive 3 week induction programme at our leadership and development centre, Westwood, you will participate in our structured, accredited Engineering programmes that offer a mixture of personal skills training, technical training and work based placements that allow you to get hands-on experience of the railway.

 

Throughout the programme you can expect to have a mentor as well as support from the graduate development team.

 

Important points about training and development:

• Provides mix of projects, on-the-job experience, courses and secondments.
• Support for professional qualifications.
• Mentoring by a senior manager to help maximize your experience.
• You are in the driving seat directing your own career.
• On-going training throughout career.
• Wide-ranging career opportunities in areas throughout the organisation.

Project Management - two year rotational development programme which will include three tailor-made leadership days and three graduate learning and development forums. 

 

Operations Management - nine months placement with a senior manager in a specific part of the business. After your nine months placement, you will start your first job for a minimum of 12 months before your next career move is agreed.

 

Finance - following an intensive six week induction programme spend at our leadership and development centre - Westwood, you will receive five weeks foundation training at the financial training college for the Certificate level of your CIMA. You will then sit your relevant exams over the next two years receiving training and support to achieve your CIMA professional qualification

 

Property - you will receive training and support to achieve your RICS professional qualification

 

Contracts & Procurement - Surveyor Route - you will receive training and support to achieve your RICS professional qualification

 

If you have already applied for our 2011 Graduate Programme unfortunately we are unable to accept a second application from you. However, if you applied to our Graduate Programme in a previous year you are welcome to re-apply.

It depends on your placement. Stations have to be manned 24 hours a day and some maintenance can only be done at night so occasionally you may be required to do this.

 

We have vacancies for both electrical and electronic engineers and would welcome applications from both.

As long as your degree is accredited by the IET, ICE or IMECHE then you are eligible to apply.

Most of the track work is done by the maintenance arm of Network Rail. Vacancies in this area can be found on the careers section of the website (www.networkrail.co.uk/careers).

We offer a £3,000 welcome bonus, London allowance, season ticket discount, season ticket loan, defined contribution pension scheme, 28 days holidays per year.

People who pass the initial sifting of their application form will be asked to complete situational judgment, verbal and numeric reasoning tests online. If you are successful at these stages you will be considered for a place at a final stage assessment centre.

 

Our job offers, based on performance at the assessment centre will be made within one week and we specify a start date for September 2012. Job offers are subject to achieving at least a 2.2 (Hons) degree, satisfactory references and passing a medical test.

Yes, but to a limit of £75 (although please check with us if you are going to fly). If using your own car the maximum is reimbursement for 100 miles each way regardless of distance actually travelled. We pay 20 pence per mile.

19th December 2011.

Once you have submitted your application you will receive an auto response, followed up by an email to let you know that we have received it. You will hear from us as soon as possible afterwards if we wish to invite you to take our online situational judgment test.

For 2012 we are only offering Industrial (sandwich year) Placements in Information Management (IT).

We do not offer any specific schemes, which would help post A-level students who want to do something before university. However, some of our offices do support the Year in Industry scheme which your school careers advisors will have information on.

We get asked this question a lot. As owners of the rail infrastructure we do not employ train drivers as this is the function of train operating companies.

 

For further information on these types of job visit the ATOC website, www.atoc.org

Of course. Visit the careers section of our website (www.networkrail.co.uk/careers) for a list of current vacancies