FAQs

It will be between 10 and 15, across rail, bus and engineering.

Yes, we do ask you to choose at the outset which division you would like to work in.

Unfortunately the minimum grade we accept is a 2:2.

If you go to Apply, you’ll see an outline of the whole recruitment process.

We’ll let you know over the phone, and then confirm our decision with an official offer letter. The offer will be subject to you gaining a minimum of a 2:2 in your degree and passing a medical.

We’re afraid this isn’t possible. Like all our other graduates, you’ll need to be involved in our graduate induction. It provides you with a professional welcome to First, introduces you to senior managers, and gives you valuable management modules that will help you throughout your scheme.

All graduate roles are based in the UK for the whole training period.

Placements will vary throughout the scheme; some will be hands-on, front-line based, while others will be more project based. They vary in location (and length) and can range from being based in an HQ to a depot. However, all placements will provide you with a rounded experience of the industry and FirstGroup.

No, you are asked to choose which division you wish to work for at the initial application stage and tell us why you want to work there.

In your first year, you will experience both our Bus and Rail divisions to give you a flavour of our business as a whole, you will spend six months in your chosen division followed by 3-6months in the other division. You will spend the entire second year in your chosen division. You may also have the chance to undertake short placements with FirstGroup functions like Procurement, HR, Finance, Safety and Marketing/Comms.

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.

No, as a management trainee, you’ll need to wear smart business dress.

As a management trainee, you’ll receive a laptop and mobile phone. You’ll also be provided with any safety equipment that your placement requires, such as safety shoes and high visibility vests.

As you can imagine, your first role will be driven by the needs of the business at that time. However, typical positions in the past have been:

Rail: Station Management, Contracts Management, Operations Management, Project Management, Train Planning, Train Crew Management.

Bus: Service Delivery Management, Operations Management, Staff Management, Project Management, Depot Management, Engineering Workshop Management.

No, we’re committed to supporting the professional development of all our people. We’re happy to fund any qualifications or training that will accelerate your career with us.

We welcome quality applications from experienced individuals of any age.

We also welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. Like many companies, we ask our graduates to pass a medical before embarking on the scheme’s activities. We need to ensure that you’re fit enough to carry out, for instance, safety critical work on track/depots and stations.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer a purely office-bound programme. Applicants with colour restricted vision may find that progression to certain roles in some functions might not be open to them.

If you have any other questions please do get in touch.

When you start your application you are sent a "secret". When you wish to recover your application, go to the application form page, click on apply now, then click on recover. You will be asked to provide your email address and secret.

Your secret should be automatically sent to you. If you have not received it, check your junk mail folder. If you still have not received your secret, email linda.guthrie@firstgroup.com and she will recover it for you.

There are a few things you can do here. Firstly check that your web browser is up-to-date - updating your browser will probably solve most problems. Secondly, in order that you don't lose any information, make sure you save a copy in Word. Thirdly,  try again a few hours later, there may be an intermittent problem with the server that is causing the problems. Finally, if none of this works, contact linda.guthrie@firstgroup.com and she will advise you further.