Apprentice Train Driver - Leeds

Overview

Join to apply for the Apprentice Train Driver – Leeds role at Arriva Group

Starting salary: £32,717 per annum, rising to £43,347 on completion of training, and increasing to £65,402 when trained and driving on your own.

Are you looking for a rewarding career where you can make a difference every day? Join us as an Apprentice Train Driver and be part of a team that plays a vital role in delivering a safe, reliable, and pivotal service for our customers. We’re proud to welcome people from all walks of life into our workforce. Whether you’re changing careers or just starting out, we’ll provide a structured, fully supported training programme to help you become a fully qualified Train Driver.

We are looking for people who will

• Prioritise safety and take personal responsibility for maintaining a safe and supportive working environment
• Bring a positive, proactive approach to learning, collaboration, and supporting others
• Be committed to delivering excellent, accessible, and inclusive service to all our customers
• Meet the relevant Rail Industry Standards requirements (reasonable adjustments considered where needed)
• Be able to commit to the 35–39-week training programme (starting in 2026/27) with full support from our team to help you succeed
• Live within 1 hour of the depot you are applying to
• Be able to work shifts, with very early starts and late finishes
• Internal candidates will also go through an internal review which will consist of a full check of absence (in line with MFA), Line Manager reference of performance and conduct in role; a review of any safety incidents which have occurred, and any live and previous disciplinaries

Responsibilities / Qualifications

• Meet the relevant Rail Industry Standards requirements (reasonable adjustments considered where needed)
• Live within 1 hour of the depot you are applying to
• Be able to work shifts, with very early starts and late finishes
• Internal candidates will undergo an internal review including absence, performance and conduct, safety incidents, and any disciplinaries as reviewed by current and future line managers

Benefits

• Holiday: starts at 30 days, rising to 35 days
• Pension is defined benefit, contributions can vary but benefit is fixed and inflated each year
• Free travel on Arriva Rail services and reciprocal travel on West Midlands Trains in the Birmingham area
• 75% off other UK rail companies
• Discounted European rail travel after one year
• Access to Arriva’s Village discounts

We’re proud to be recognised by WORK180 as an employer of choice for women. Our benefits reflect our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace.

Recruitment Process

We’re committed to a fair and inclusive selection process. Once you’ve submitted your application, our recruitment team will review it against the role criteria, and you’ll hear from us about next steps within two to three weeks. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online assessment with guidance to help you succeed.

• A review of your online application
• Online assessments (facilitated by our assessment partner, SHL)
• Train Driver Psychometric Testing
• Values Alignment meeting
• A safety-critical medical

Eligibility & Apply By

You must be 20 years old or above to apply for this role. Due to the structured nature of the training programme, successful applicants must attend on the specified dates. Annual leave will be scheduled in line with the training plan.

Apply by: 3rd November 2025.

Equal Opportunity

At Arriva, we’re committed to building a workplace where everyone belongs and where the team reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and the passengers we support every day. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences including women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, LGBTQ+ colleagues, and those with caring responsibilities. We’re a Disability Confident employer and can make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process or in the workplace to help you perform at your best. If there’s something we can do to support you, please let us know in confidence when you apply.

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