Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead Group 2024 graduate opportunities

Company Company profile

We are a leading provider of public transport in the UK bus and rail service sectors, delivering over one billion passenger journeys each year. Almost two million journeys take place per day on our bus network – as well as being London’s largest bus operator, we own eight regional UK bus companies. Currently a FTSE250 company employing 29,000 people across the country, we’re also expanding our international bus and rail portfolio.

We are strong believers in local brands run by local management for local markets, and so are looking for motivated graduates who will grow and develop into our future operations managers and directors.

Case studies

  • Name: Lucy Arnold
  • Role: Operations Graduate
  • Joined: September 2017
  • University: University of Westminster
  • Degree: History

"I would definitely recommend this as a career for women."

Description:

"Travelling through London and riding the bus on a regular basis made me think about how daily life for so many people is shaped by public transport. I realised I had a real interest in transport and wanted to understand how the systems worked and who the teams were that made it happen.

Go-Ahead’s graduate scheme outlined a programme of progression in bus company management that I could explore as a young person embarking on my career.

My core department is operations and I have been surprised by how quickly you can learn and progress within it. It is important to get involved right from the beginning as the opportunity is there to make the programme what you want it to be and shape the particular career path you would like to follow. By the second year, I will be in a position dealing with people management, route management and being accountable for those functions.

My first year of training has involved working in every area of the business and understanding each departments’ contribution to the bus service we offer. Alongside this, I have had the chance to assist in the introduction of a Demand Responsive Transport Service. This has been a unique opportunity whereby I have learned various skills in Project Management, as well as understanding what it takes to launch a new service. Go-Ahead has put so much time into the training programme, ensuring that each graduate can benefit from a flexible framework.

The role of a graduate is a challenging one. It is important to acknowledge the vast history within the transport industry, and just how passionate people are about what they do. Some of my colleagues have been in their jobs for decades and it has enhanced my respect for their achievements. Whilst respecting these, it is also important that we build on them, through developing our service to meet the changing demands of the customer. The graduate programme has provided me with an opportunity to tackle this exciting challenge whilst meeting a really diverse group of people involved in the bus industry.

I would definitely recommend this as a career for women. Go-Ahead is an organisation which values inclusion and diversity in the workplace, through offering a culture where women can achieve and join what has previously been a primarily male dominated industry. I have been a part of the Diversity Focus Group since I joined the company, looking at what diversity means to everyone, the concerns people have, and how to achieve diversity in all forms. I was pleasantly surprised to find how many females there were in the industry."

Training & profiles

  • Membership to the Young Bus/Rail Managers’ Network and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
    • Full support from mentors, specialists and your own graduate community - we spend £22million per year on training and development, so make the most of what is on offer
    • To become manager within two years
    • Career progression – a senior manager role within five years – on track to be earning £35-40,000 per year
    • Free travel on many of Go-Ahead’s services

Application procedure

Graduate Management Programme
Our two-year graduate management programmes are designed to support and develop you across one of our three streams. So, if you are keen to take on real responsibility and to manage others in a diverse and innovative industry, then check out the streams below to find out what you can expect, what we're looking for and most importantly, how to apply!

Application process -

FAQs

Can I apply for more than one stream?
Yes, all you need to do is apply for the stream you are interested in. For example, if you would like to apply for both the bus and rail stream, you will need to apply twice. If you progress through to the video interview stage, you can submit one video interview for all the streams you applied for. If you are successful with your video interview, you will only go forward to assessment centre and final interview for one stream. Please remember that for Bus, Rail and Rail development you can apply with any degree discipline. For Engineering you need a mechanical, automotive, electrical or electronic engineering degree.

Do I have to relocate?
On the Bus stream, there are 8 locations up and down the UK and Ireland for you to choose from – if you are successful it would be sensible for you to live nearby your base in order to control your commute time and work/life balance. As part of one of your rotations, you may be required to move temporarily to a different location during the programme.

The Rail stream is based just out of London, with some travel required across our Southeastern and GTR networks. If you don’t live in London, it would be a good idea to think about relocating for the reasons stated above. If you are not sure, we can put you in touch with current graduates who have been down the same path to help you decide.

The Engineering programme is predominantly based in London but requires a lot of flexibility and travel across our bus operating companies. Again, we recommend living in London for your own quality of life.

I'm a little scared about the video interview, can you give me some tips?
It’s completely normal to be a bit nervous about a video interview, as it can feel a bit weird talking to a camera rather a person. Think about it in this way though, rather than concentrating on 3 interviewers across the table, you just need to focus on what you are saying rather than observing their eye contact, body language etc. You can complete the video interview in your own time, in a comfortable environment and you are even given thinking time before each question. But to help you get used to the idea, we can’t emphasise how important it is to practice (on your phone or on the practise platform we will invite you to), getting used to hearing your own voice and building the confidence to smoothly deliver your answers.