NORTHERN is looking to recruit more than 300 drivers and conductors across the north of England this year.

The train operator is looking to hire 108 train drivers and 198 conductors in 2024 and is actively encouraging people with no rail industry experience to apply.

New recruits will have to complete paid apprenticeships at one of Northern’s training academies in Leeds or Manchester.

The train driver roles, which will be advertised in the coming months in areas across the North including Leeds, come with a starting salary of £23,000 a year and that rises to £54,500 after the recruits complete a 64-week training course.

The conductor roles set to be advertised in areas including Leeds and Skipton, come with salaries starting at £22,000, rising to £29,000 once they complete a 16-week training course.

A small number of roles open to qualified drivers will also be available in Leeds.

For more information and details visit northernrailway.co.uk/careers.

Northern says it employs people from "all walks of life". 

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern, said: “We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and we’re proud to include people from all walks of life in our team, from military veterans and ex-police officers, to former office workers and stay-at-home parents.”

Northern currently employs over 2,000 drivers and 1,400 conductors to run services across its network.