Woman makes rail dream a reality through Career Returners programme

“I was thrilled when I passed my final assessment and got my driver’s key at the end of 2024, because all my hard work had finally paid off. There was a lot to learn as part of my driver training, including the 1,000-page rulebook which I must know off-by-heart; I loved getting in the driver’s cab and learning the routes under the supervision of an instructor and now I’m heading out on the network for real. My current routes are from East Grinstead to London, London to East Croydon, and I’ve just started learning the London to Epsom Downs line, which is very exciting!”

Career Returners is a coaching and consulting programme targeted at people who have been on an extended career break and are looking to get back to fulfilling work, something Leigh used to join the world of rail. Leigh previously worked as a legal PA, but chose to leave her career to support her daughter.

“I was out of work for 10 years because I left my long-standing career as a legal PA to look after my daughter, who has significant learning difficulties. She is very vulnerable and will probably have to live with me for the rest of her life, so it felt right to pause my career and focus all my energy on her. While I was caring for my daughter, I studied accountancy and qualified in 2021, but after months of job applications I still hadn’t secured a job.” 

Leigh started searching for careers in different industries, which is when she applied to be a trainee train driver with Southern through the Career Returners website in 2023.

“I saw an advert on social media, which featured a female train driver. It caught my eye and I was led to the Career Returners website, where I found lots of different opportunities on offer, including vacancies for trainee train drivers. It sounded perfect for the position I was in, so I applied for the role and the rest is history!”

Leigh, who lives near Longfield in Kent, wants to encourage others not to be set back by an extended career break, as a new fulfilling career could be just around the corner.    

“Coming back to work after a 10-year break was a huge change, because I’d been out of the loop for so long. However, the support I received through the Returners programme was invaluable, which made the back to work transition so much easier. My manager was very supportive, and we had regular check in sessions to see how I was progressing. I was also able to balance my studying and caring thanks to my mum and the brilliant day support my daughter receives from her specialist school.

“I’m grateful to GTR and Career Returners because thanks to their help I’m in a rewarding career and I can give my daughter the life she deserves, which means the world to me.”

To find out more about the Career Returners programme, follow this link.