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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive continuous improvement and enhance service delivery for a leading railway company.
- Company: Join South Western Railway, connecting communities across South West London and beyond.
- Benefits: Enjoy free travel, discounts, excellent training, and a strong pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on customer service and develop your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Achieve Grade C/4 in English and Maths or Level 2 Functional Skills; leadership skills are a plus.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace celebrating diversity and providing equal opportunities for all.
Overview
For this apprenticeship, you will need to be aged 18+ years on the 1st September 2026.
Who are we?
South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.
Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.
About the job
The purpose of this role is to facilitate continuous improvement within the Service Delivery (Control) function to facilitate and drive meaningful improvements within the Control space in order to achieve an aim of being able to provide a service our customers can rely on, particularly during disruptive events.
Responsibilities will include:
- Direct, develop and foster a culture of structured continuous improvement across the control.
- Facilitate structured continuous improvement utilising the agreed tools to solve problems and implement the solution.
- Engagement with stakeholders to deliver the organisation\’s structured continuous improvement strategy.
- Coach and mentor control team members on structured continuous improvement and techniques, providing coaching and support.
- Support a sustained culture of structured continuous improvement challenging existing processes, exploring new ways of working, benchmarking, observations, best practice, feedback and analysis presenting business cases for change and supporting proposals. Work with teams to identify and improve areas of poor performance.
Role SpecificResponsibilities:
- To act as Subject Matter Expert for issues pertaining to Control processes, policies and decision support tools.
- To identify and lead on the delivery of Control performance improvement workstreams within their area of expertise, including the identification and adoption of industry good practice.
- To undertake incident learning reviews to identify both areas of good practice and areas for improvement.
- To act as custodian for the ROC Visualisation Boards, ensuring that they are accurate and are updated on a daily basis (via the agreed Vis Board process).
- Responsible for the production and maintenance of Control Standard Operating Procedures.
- To act as custodian and administrator of the SWR Train Service Recovery ‘Decision Support Tool\’, ensuring that the Base Plan is always accurate and up-to-date (in accordance with the agreed and published process).
- To help build strong and effective relationships between and across the SWR and NR Command & Control workstreams.
- To report relevant information and updates about the CI team activities back to the Head of CI.
- To resolve issues relevant to workstream deliverables and within their area of expertise.
- To identify and provide recommendations for procedural improvements.
- To obtain or provide approval for changes to rules, processes and policies.
You\’ll need:
- Predicted to or achieved Grade C/4 or above in English and Maths, or Level 2 Functional Skills.
- An appreciation of Lean/ContinuousImprovement tools, techniques and methodologies
- Effective leadership qualities and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Committed to continued Continuous Improvement professional development.
- Strong operational focus and commercially astute.
- The ability to work independently or as part of a team and successfully adapt to changing priorities.
Working pattern
You will work an average of 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.
The Reward
In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:
- Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
- Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
- 75% discount on many other train operating companies
- Full training and support with development
- Excellent pension scheme
We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.
We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.
We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.
If you require additionalsupport to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.
https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/
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Continuous Improvement Manager Apprentice employer: South Western News UK
Contact Detail:
South Western News UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Continuous Improvement Manager Apprentice
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Research South Western Railway and understand their values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to continuous improvement. Think about how you can demonstrate your understanding of Lean tools and methodologies through real-life examples.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the SWR family and ready to contribute to continuous improvement.
We think you need these skills to ace Continuous Improvement Manager Apprentice
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Continuous Improvement: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for continuous improvement. Share any relevant experiences or projects where you've made a difference, even if they're from school or previous jobs. We love to see candidates who are genuinely excited about making things better!
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the role of Continuous Improvement Manager Apprentice. Highlight your understanding of Lean and Continuous Improvement tools, and how you can apply them in our context. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are serious about joining our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role. We appreciate candidates who can communicate effectively, as this is key in our collaborative environment.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do – just follow the prompts and you’ll be on your way to joining us at SWR!
How to prepare for a job interview at South Western News UK
✨Know Your Continuous Improvement Tools
Familiarise yourself with Lean and other continuous improvement methodologies before the interview. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools in past experiences or how you plan to apply them in this role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership qualities and interpersonal skills. Think of situations where you've successfully led a team or mentored someone, as this will resonate well with the responsibilities of the role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Understand the importance of stakeholder engagement in continuous improvement. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building relationships and communicating effectively with different teams within the organisation.
✨Demonstrate Adaptability
This role requires adapting to changing priorities. Share examples from your past where you've successfully navigated change or improved processes, showing that you're flexible and can thrive in dynamic environments.
