Go North West
Are you ready to take the next step in your career with an innovative and dynamic company?
We are a leading provider of passenger transport in North West of England. Our business literally drives people – our team of 1300 are at the heart of everything we do.
We play a crucial part in keeping our region moving sustainably, we are proud to be one of the formative operators of Greater Manchester’s pioneering “Bee Network”, and we’ve got a clear plan for future growth around the North West.
Go North West is part of the Go-Ahead Group, a leading international transport group and one of the UK’s biggest public transport providers. We also operate in Australia, Ireland, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden.
Go Ahead’s strategy, ‘The Next Billion Journeys’, focuses on service quality and growing organically and by acquisition: alongside maintaining our industry climate change strategy leadership as the UK’s largest operator of zero carbon emission buses.
Many of our business leaders began their careers as graduates and graduate development is a key part of our talent culture that prioritises career development. We place significant value on the diverse perspectives that graduates bring into our business.
Find out more about women in Operations
What we are looking for
We are looking for graduates who like to find innovative solutions to challenging problems, and are resourceful, driven, and curious to discover the evolving transport industry and the opportunities it has to offer. We seek confident individuals who can communicate effectively and transparently with people from all backgrounds while showing ambition and collaboration.
Our 18-month graduate programmes will include multiple placements around your local business where you can expect to experience all aspects of an operational environment.
As part of our scheme, you will have the opportunity to complete secondments to other parts of the Group to further develop your industry knowledge. The scheme is designed to help you find your passion, secure a permanent role, and build your career in the transport industry.
As a diverse group, we rely heavily on passionate individuals who are agile and motivated to deliver sustainable growth and a smarter and healthier planet for our customers.
To work together towards achieving this goal we need to develop our future business leaders - think this could be you?
Hear from our Graduates
Joel Halligan – Network Planner (Commercial)
“The graduate scheme provided me with some fantastic opportunities to really get involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. From interviewing candidates for bus driving jobs to managing colleagues at the depot and working with our Head Office Finance and Commercial Teams, there aren’t many areas of the business that I’ve not been able to work in.
Now, almost five years in, I work as a Network Planner in the company’s commercial team. My role is very varied – I manage our ticketing and revenue systems, I look after our corporate ticketing relationships, I work with data to analyse many aspects of our commercial performance, and I help to plan and manage the network of over 100 local services that we operate.”
Mitchell Leathard – General Manager (Operations)
“Joining the Go-Ahead graduate scheme at the age of 22 was one the best decisions I've ever made. The scheme allows you to experience and understand the workings of one of the largest transport companies in the UK.
I've also had the opportunity to see our bus and rail business across the UK and internationally, experiencing our operations in Ireland, Norway, and Germany. There is a wealth of opportunity and experience afforded to anyone joining the Graduate scheme; you don't need prior experience, just a willingness to learn and get involved.”
Nigel Featham - Managing Director (Go North West)
"A graduate scheme at Go North-West and Go North-East is more than just a job. We're looking for the future leaders of our businesses to join this fast-paced and growing sector of transport working right across the vibrant North of England. There's no shortage of talent at Go-Ahead Group, so if you've got the energy and enthusiasm, we've got the opportunity for you!"
Idris Brown - Graduate at Go North West.
How have you developed personally and professionally in your role at Go North West?
“Within a mere 6 months, I've delved into employment law training, secured my IOSH qualification, and refined my public speaking abilities. Not only that, but I've also learned how to navigate intricate databases like DAS Web, Power-Bi, and Oracle! It's been quite the journey, and I still have a lot to learn, but thanks to GNW, I've made incredible progress. Plus, collaborating with industry-leading experts daily has been an invaluable experience that's really helped me grow as a person. But beyond the thrill, there's the profound impact you can make. Transport serves as a lifeline for communities, facilitating everything from daily commutes to crucial hospital visits. Here, your contributions are visible and deeply rewarding—which is a testament to the significance of the work we do.”
