Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) announced its plans to expand its apprenticeship programme by a quarter in 2022.

Services under GTR's banner include Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express.

The rail operator’s apprenticeship programme is open to people of all ages and backgrounds and it is seeking to reach as diverse a range of potential applicants as possible.

It is working with partners including, Not Going To Uni, Socially Recruited, RMP Enterprise, The Association for BME Engineers and Springpod to attract interest from around the country to work across the Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern routes.

David Jackson, Apprenticeship Specialist at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “As passenger numbers increase and the country gets back on track, we’re delighted to be able to offer even more fantastic apprenticeship opportunities to work in the innovative rail industry.

"Glowing testimonials from our successful apprentices – from this year’s cohort as well as those who joined the railway as an apprentice and have since worked their way through the ranks – shows just how many doors a scheme like this can open.”

How to apply for the GTR apprenticeship scheme

The rail company is currently on target to hire 200 apprentices before the end of 2021, with some schemes already open for applications.

Anyone considering applying for an apprenticeship with GTR should go to their Careers website here.