Former academy player urges more people to join the railway ahead of World Youth Skills Day

Now a Business and Admin apprentice for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Tommy, 18, is encouraging more people to consider a career in rail ahead of World Youth Skills Day (15th July).

“For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a footballer. While I was studying my A Levels, I played for Volenti Academy, in partnership with Crystal Palace, which was a dream come true because I was coached by ex-professional players. I got to play in tournaments against London clubs, such as Chelsea and Arsenal, and was privileged my sport took me to places like Mumbai and Seville. Unfortunately, sport can come with injuries and I ruptured my ankle twice, which was heartbreaking because after the second time I was advised to stop playing football.”

After researching careers in different industries and seeking advice from his family, Tommy applied for GTR’s Business and Admin apprenticeship at the beginning of 2024, but was initially unsuccessful. However, he impressed his interviewers so much that a few weeks later he was offered an additional place on the apprenticeship and started working at the rail operator’s busy Rail Operating Centre in Three Bridges in September.

“I wasn’t sure what career I wanted to go into because I’d been set on football for years, so I had a chat with my sister, who’s a train driver at another company, and she said I should join the railway since there are lots of different career paths on offer. I started researching apprenticeships and that’s when I found GTR’s Business and Admin role, which looked interesting because I want to learn what it takes to run a successful business. I applied for it and got through to the interview stage, but wasn’t successful because there were only a few spaces available on the course. A couple of weeks later, I got a call from a manager at GTR and they said they were impressed by my attitude during the interview, so they created another space on the apprenticeship for me.

“I’m less than a year into my apprenticeship and I’m loving it so far because I’m learning valuable skills like how to chair meetings, manage conflict, and problem-solving techniques. I’ve also had the chance to widen my experience by working in different teams, for example I’ve just finished a six-month placement with the CCTV department.”

Tommy, who lives in Bermondsey, said having a sporting background has helped him with his apprenticeship and navigating the world of work.

“I use a lot of the skills I’ve picked up from football for my apprenticeship because I’m always motivated to complete my work to the best of my ability, just as I’d want to perform my best in a match. Playing a team sport has taught me that you learn about everyone’s abilities and, importantly, how to motivate people during those big moments, so I think having these skills is crucial if I want to progress to a manager role at GTR. I’d highly recommend this apprenticeship to anyone who wants to get a taste of the railway because every day is different and there’s always an opportunity to learn something new.”

To follow in Tommy’s footsteps, find out more about careers and apprenticeships at GTR here: Home | GTR Careers.