Marvin OnumonuTrenitalia c2c has hired four permanent staff members following their completion of the c2c and King’s Trust ‘Get into Railways’ programme.
The scheme is aimed at young people aged 18 to 30 who have struggled to find work, offering them a chance to gain employment with c2c, which now runs the programme every year.
The King’s Trust programme gives candidates an in-depth introduction to the business, letting both c2c teams and candidates see where they might fit in the company.
New recruits Jack Wood, Fatihur Rahman, Arif Torofdar and Lindsey Keeling have joined in permanent roles after a structured internal interview process supported by the occupational psychology centre, which provided recruitment tools and assessors.
The new starters will work across the business in teams such as HR and ticket office.
Rob Mullen (pictured), managing director at c2c, said: “c2c is always on the lookout for fresh new talent and The King’s Trust programme offers us the opportunity to meet so many young people looking to start their careers and all of whom can bring new ideas and thinking to the workplace.
“We are delighted to partner with The King’s Trust and the great work they do in supporting young people find employment.”
Jessica Lake, head of learning and development at c2c, said: “I am so proud of all our candidates that have come through The King’s Trust programme.
“All of them are looking for the opportunity to prove themselves, and we’re excited to give many of them that chance through a recruitment journey designed to bring out their best – from depot visits to confidence-building assessments with support from OPC specialists. I can’t wait to see what they achieve.”
Gen Garfield, youth development lead at The King’s Trust, said: “The Get into Railways with c2c programme was a fantastic opportunity for young people not in education, employment or training to gain work experience in the rail industry.
“It was amazing to see the young people grow in confidence, develop their skills and support one another throughout the programme.
“The young people reflected that the staff at c2c were really friendly, welcoming and encouraging, which enhanced their experience.
“Some young people gained employment with c2c and we’re excited to see where their journey takes them.”
John-Paul Uzowuru, project management office executive at c2c and a graduate of the programme in 2024, said: “I joined c2c as part of The King’s Trust programme, so to be on the other side of things this year was an amazing experience for me.
“To see a new group of young people, eager to get involved – just like I was – with the business and make an impact, is incredibly rewarding and I am excited to see what they bring to c2c.”
Becky Griffiths, talent assessor at the occupational psychology centre, said: “As Talent Assessors, we’re passionate about supporting candidates throughout their recruitment journey.
“Practice materials can help reduce anxiety, build confidence and, as OPC research suggests, improve a candidate’s chances of performing their best on the real assessment day.”
