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Engineering Careers

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Engineering Management

Everything about this scheme will take you out of your comfort zone. Rather than follow regular office hours or sit at a computer, you’ll be out there - typically on site - gaining experience in Bus or Rail maintenance, repair and fleet reliability; together with operations management as well as project and contract management.

Whether you decide to focus on Bus or Rail, the development path will be the same. There will be 12 months' training, followed by a further 12 months of focused, hands-on experience. After that, you'll receive 2 years' monitored support in a management role that majors on your key strengths. Ultimately, you'll be working towards Chartered Engineer status.

In terms of technical skills, we’re looking for mechanical, electrical and electronic graduate engineers. You'll enter as a Trainee Manager - generally at workshop level - and then quickly progress, taking responsibility for depot engineering.

There's a real emphasis on operational excellence and consistent delivery (with genuine opportunity for innovation). So we're looking for graduates with a BEng or MEng (minimum 2:2) that's been accredited by IMechE or IET.

Aside from your technical skills we need graduates who are comfortable dealing with people. A great team player, with plenty of energy, you're as confident managing colleagues as you are engaging directly with the public in demanding commercial environments. Above all, you're passionate about delivering the great service that our customers have come to expect.

A little more detail

What kind of career pathway will I follow?
When you join us as a graduate engineer, you’ll follow a route called the Monitored Professional Engineering Development Scheme (MPEDS) in Bus or APEDS in Rail. This will enable you to complete the first stage of your professional development, become a corporate member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and register with the Engineering Council as a ‘Chartered Engineer’ or ‘Incorporated Engineer’.

Which parts of FirstGroup will I work in?
As an engineering graduate, you will spend two years working within the division you choose when you join us, you will be placed in one Bus Operating Company or Train Operating Company and will spend time at various depots across the Operating Company network. We believe this will give you a good understanding of your ‘parent’ division and direct experience of project work and day-to-day business delivery.

Will I get any extra support?
At the very beginning of your journey, you’ll be assigned a Chartered (or Incorporated) Engineer – of any discipline – as your mentor. They’ll help you set and review all the key objectives that will develop your engineering and business competencies. Your mentor will also assess your progress, and provide feedback to the Engineering Institution, for the entire four years.

What else can I expect?
We’d also like you to provide reports and observations on your experience, understanding and the contribution you’ve made. There will be plenty of placements within our own Train or Bus Operating companies, but you’ll also spend time at other companies within the rail and bus industry. We’ve found it’s the best way to help you gain a broad and contrasting experience. There will even be the chance to attend external seminars and courses.

Essentially, everything’s been carefully designed to help you use your technical skills, business competence, innovation and interpersonal skills to the best of your ability. You’ll be contributing to our future, as well as your own.