Information Systems Controller

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job:

Our Customer Information team are based at the heart of our control centre in Basingstoke, leading communications during disruption, events and engineering work.

You will be joining the team that runs our “breaking news” desk at South Western Railway. We love to be a little different and are proud that our team aim to deliver the highest levels of customer service.

The amazing candidate will possess excellent written, typed and verbal English communication skills to enable us to provide the best possible information to our customers and colleagues through the mediums we use. You will utilise insights from customer feedback to continually improve, evolve and innovate what we do.

You will be a people person, with a down to earth personality, a passion for communication, collaborating with others while working as part of a small team in a busy, buzzing environment.

Are you an insatiably curious optimist who understands the importance of Customer Experience? Do you know how to create engaging content in the moment, interpret sometimes complex and fast-moving events into easily assimilated, useful and relevant information? If you are, we want you!

Our social media channels play a large part of what we do and we receive hundreds of comments, questions and compliments daily. We are proud that our content is authentic, human and fun.

You will strive to be open minded, forward thinking and embrace change. If you have experience using computer systems and digital platforms this would be beneficial but not essential.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Answering customer enquiries from Help Points across the network.
• Updating and maintaining the information displayed on the Customer Information Systems across the SWR network.
• Logging and managing faults and maintenance of CCTV, Customer Information Systems, Help Points, and some IT systems.
• Observing and monitoring stations, Ticket Vending Machines and trains using CCTV and the Ticket Vending Machine monitoring system, and bringing any issues to the attention of the relevant Control department.
• Liaising with our customers via social media, including the SWR Twitter account to keep them fully up to date on the running of the railway.
• Utilising the SWR Online Community to enter into conversation with our customers.
• Assisting other members of the Control Centre by facilitating communication with customers and other members of staff.
• Sending passenger assistance requests to the relevant parties.
• Various administrative tasks to ensure the desk runs smoothly.
• Miscellaneous other duties and tasks requested by your line manager.

As a minimum, you will need:

• A high level of grammar, spelling and verbal communication skills.
• A good level of general education
• Ability to prioritise tasks in a high pressure, fast moving environment.
• IT literate with the ability to learn new systems.
• Knowledge of railway terminology advantageous.
• Experience in a customer service environment.
• Able to work shift patterns.

About the location:

Basingstoke Campus, more commonly known as the ROC, is a state-of-the-art Operating Centre and training facility located a short walk from Basingstoke station. It is a shared facility with Network Rail and is the hub for all operations across the Wessex region. The office space and technology on site are modern with the added benefit of additional facilities including a gym & canteen.

Working pattern:

Average of 37 hours per week across 5 days working a mixture of early, late and night shifts.

7-Week Rolling roster
Monday to Friday 
Earlies 0700-1415
Mid-Shift 0900-1630
Lates 1400-2215
Nights 2200-0715

Saturday & Sunday 
Either 0700-1900 or 1900-0700 depending on the line on the roster

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:

• Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees
• Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent)
• 75% discount on many other train operating companies
• Full training and support with development
• Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR. Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/