As part of the Transport UK Group, West Midlands Trains delivers around 1,300 train journeys a day, for more than 60 million passengers a year, across our two brands - West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway.

We are committed to delivering a safe and reliable train service, by investing in our fleet of trains, stations and employees. As part of this investment, we are looking to recruit an Intern, to join our Property team for 12 months, based at our head office in Birmingham on a hybrid basis.

This is a great opportunity to support the Property Workstream Lead and Project Manager on various projects, both internal and third-party. You will gain an understanding of the train operating company's role within the national rail network and its relationship with the Department for Transport and Network Rail. As our new intern, you will learn about railway projects, attend project meetings, and understand the complexities of these projects and their impact on station operations and train services. You will work with stakeholders to deliver projects on scope, cost, and schedule, support project scope definition, and apply project management tools. Additionally, you will review and assess risk and method statements, designs, and undertake site visits to ensure quality and safety. There will also be opportunities for shadowing other departments and developing knowledge in various disciplines such as Building Surveying, Civils, Telecoms, and Mechanical & Electrical.

What does the job involve?

• Agree on workstream definition and scope with the Project Manager and take responsibility for delivery: Collaborate with the Project Manager to understand the objectives and deliverables of the workstream. Assist in ensuring tasks are completed on time and within budget.
• Liaise with the Project Manager on projects as needed: Maintain regular communication with the Project Manager to provide updates and address any issues that arise.
• Resolve user requirements and priority conflicts using subject matter expertise: Help identify, and address user needs and resolve any conflicts in priorities.
• Review and approve risk and method statements from third-party contractors/suppliers: Assist in evaluating risk and method statements to ensure they meet safety and quality standards.
• Manage specific issues and risks related to the workstream or as directed by the Project Manager: Support in identifying and managing issues or risks that could impact the workstream's progress.
• Ensure workstream products are delivered to appropriate quality levels and signoff processes are in place: Help establish and maintain quality standards for deliverables, ensuring thorough review and validation.
• Monitor and communicate progress to the Project Manager, including timescales, costs, risks, issues, and dependencies: Track progress against the project plan and report on status, highlighting any deviations or issues.
• Work within the project team to deliver high-quality, cost-effective projects across the WMT network: Collaborate with team members to achieve project goals, focusing on delivering value and efficiency.
• Develop understanding of the railway operational model and key stakeholders: Gain a basic understanding of railway operations and the roles of key stakeholders.
• Use project management tools to convey project status: Learn and use tools like Gantt charts and progress reports to provide updates on project status.
• Practice project management skills such as risk management, financial reporting, project planning, stakeholder management, conflict resolution, project reporting, and requirements management: Develop and apply project management skills through hands-on experience.

What skills and experience do I need to do the job?

• Passionate, ambitious, driven individuals with a large appetite for learning and not afraid to ask questions or challenge the status quo. We are looking for a fresh perspective and inquisitive nature from our interns and there will be ample opportunity for the individuals to be involved in shaping the future of our railway and making a real difference.
• Those interested in a railway career will find the internship very rewarding and beneficial as it offers you first-hand experience of working within a train operating company and will provide you with a solid foundation on how UK railways operate.
• Good communication and team-working skills.
• Ability to work creatively, within a framework, to provide high quality outcomes. Will need to understand the wider business objectives.
• Self-motivator able to work alone, engage and inspire difficult challenging stakeholders.
• Proficient/Experience in MS Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio)

What are the salary and benefits?

• Competitive salary of £24,500
• Free travel on all our trains and those of other train companies within our parent group company - for you, your partner, and any dependent children
• Hybrid working – office based 2-3 days a week
• 75% off all other train company travel tickets
• Retail discounts
• Career development opportunities

Due to the volume of applications we receive the advert may close earlier than the published closing date. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds and ensure no-one receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender, race/ethnicity, religion, belief and sexual orientation.

Applications will be considered from colleagues with 6 months experience, after completion of their probationary period and a full check of absence and disciplinary records.