Thameslink staff help locals into work

Staff from Thameslink have been helping unemployed locals in Luton to help turn their lives around. Working with charity NOAH Enterprise, teams from across the network have gone out of their way to help to give others a new perspective on life, helping them into work.

Working together with the charity, local Station Managers Joe Healy and Sam Bowler, devised a schedule which included providing time helping the individuals involved with interview techniques and also to show them the possibilities of work outside of Luton. This was followed by a trip to Hornsey depot, as well as a chance to have lunch and meet Thameslink’s senior team in London.

Sam, explained: “It’s been all about building the confidence of those involved and helping them realise that they are worthwhile individuals. By giving them a little time and treating them with respect they have all really brightened up. When they came to Kings Cross we had a small lunch where the top teams spent time talking to them, apparently they had not experienced anything like this before. It’s quite humbling to see a man actually stand a bit taller and prouder as the day goes on. We have even been able to donate unclaimed clothes from lost property and are now looking to do a makeover of their training room, including donating some of our old furniture.”

Stuart added: “Through the work of our teams across our network, we have shown those involved that there is a lot of parts to making a railway work, which is something they had not thought about before. With the efforts of Joe and Sam this has been a really rewarding project for everyone involved, which we have committed to continue. It’s really rewarding for us to see many of the individual going into work, including with the company that undertakes some of our train presentation work.”

David, one of the participants, who has now secured work in Flitwick, said: “Before coming to NOAH, I had not been in work for 11 months and I felt my age was a barrier to finding work. My favourite part of the course was the day trip to Thameslink’s headquarters, as this helped me to consider different job roles that might be available. The motivational aspects of the course helped me to understand my skills and what I was looking for.”

Jim O’Connor MBE, Chief Executive NOAH Enterprise, added: “We are delighted with the relationship that we have with Thameslink and the support that we enjoy as a result. In particular a big thank you to Sam, Joe and all their colleagues. The visit to the depot at Hornsey was a special highlight and such a different experience for our people. My team puts great store by the value of mentoring that has been provided by Thameslink’s managers. All of this is greatly appreciated.”

Notes to editors

For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call

Southern and Gatwick Express press office: 0203 750 2030

Thameslink and Great Northern press office: 0203 750 2031

Govia Thameslink Railway

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:

Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks

Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn

Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)

Gatwick Express – Fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria

GTR is now the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff: GTR carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, employs around 6,500 people and generates annual passenger revenues of approximately £1.3bn.

The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.

southernrailway.com, gatwickexpress.com, thameslinkrailway.com greatnorthernrail.com