At South Western Railway, we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are proud to show our commitment to the Armed Forces community.
The Covenant is a national promise to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and with respect.
On 17 October 2024, we attended the Employer Recognition Scheme awards ceremony, where we were presented with the Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award.
This award reflects our ongoing support for the Armed Forces community, including veterans, service leavers, reservists, cadets, cadet force adult volunteers, and military families.
Reservists
Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
Military Mentors
We have held career insight events with Cadets in Salisbury. In addition to hosting site tours for the Cadets of the local station and depot to give an insight into the day to day running of the railway and the different equipment and processes we have, we also supported the cadets in learning about getting a career in the railway by giving information on the various careers available and also had employees available to answer any questions.
We also covered employability training including discussing key employment skills. This included information on applying for roles, guidance on CV writing, covering skills that transfer into the different roles on the railway, also interview tips and advice.
We also offer mock interviews to any cadets who would like to undertake some practice to help them in the future.
We have celebrated Armed Forces Week at Waterloo Station the last two years jointly with Network Rail.
In addition to having representatives from both companies present, we had military pipers putting on crowd drawing performances! SSAFA were also able to carry out some great fundraising on the days.
South Western Railway have a network supporting the military community called SERVED.
The SERVED Network is committed to providing support and camaraderie to all ex serving military personnel and their families, connecting colleagues across the network who have shared experiences of serving their country.
Be sure to find us at Military careers fairs and events.
We most recently attended the National Transition Event at Silverstone and the Careers Transition Partnership Careers Fair in Bournemouth.
We held our first Project Management Insight morning in Salisbury where service leavers were able to gain an insight into Project Management at SWR.
We also try to arrange work shadowing where there are requests. If this is something you are interested in please reach out at armedforces@swrailway.com and we will try our best to arrange!
The Joint South Western Railway and Network Rail Careers Insight Event organised via the Careers Transition Partnership is due to take place on 6th of November in Basingstoke.
Come along to gain an insight into the wide variety of roles on the railway along with a Control Tour and a specific focus on Engineering, Track and operational roles. This includes Train Driver, Guard and Rail Community Officer. Places are limited so reserve your space to avoid disappointment.
Tickets can be reserved via the link below:
Network Rail & South Western Railway Career Event
“After 26 years of service in the Army, finishing my career as an Artificer Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Class One in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, stepping away from the military was one of the most significant life changes I’ve ever faced. I’d spent over two decades in a world defined by discipline, structure, and a deep sense of belonging. Leaving that behind was daunting — I was nervous, unsure of what civilian life would look like, and worried about whether I’d ever find the same sense of purpose again.
But joining South Western Railway changed everything. I quickly realised that the skills I’d developed in the Army — leadership, problem-solving, resilience, and technical expertise — were not only transferable, they were highly valued. That realisation gave me confidence and helped ease the transition. Of course, I missed the military family, but what I didn’t expect was to find a new one here at SWR. The people at SWR welcomed me, and I found myself surrounded by colleagues who shared the same commitment, camaraderie, and drive to make a difference."
"Having Served 24 Years in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers in the British Army as a Mechanic, it was only a natural step to move into an industry of heavy equipment. I’ve been with SWR since February 2024 and I received the most welcoming introduction, everyone made me feel part of a team straight away. I’ve felt that my experience from the British Army has impacted my area of responsibility by bringing something extra to the table."
