A little bit about us:
We’re building a railway that connects people and places, making journeys easier and supporting economic growth across the region.
East West Railway Company (EWR Co) was established by the Department for Transport to oversee the delivery of East West Rail, from construction through to passenger services.
East West Rail is a nationally significant infrastructure project that will improve connections between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Backed by government investment through the Autumn 2024 Budget and 2025 Spending Review, the programme will help unlock sustainable growth across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
Every role at EWR contributes to something bigger: connecting communities, supporting economic prosperity and creating a railway that will leave a lasting legacy. Our values shape how we work together every day, from putting Health, Safety and Security First to Working as One Team, Learning Together, Delivering with Drive and Purpose, and Celebrating Each Other's success.
Function:
Our People team look after everything that makes the employee experience feel great. We handle the whole journey - from finding brilliant new people and getting them onboard, to keeping everyone informed, connected and developing. We’re also the safe pair of hands behind the scenes, keeping our people data in good shape and making sure we’re doing things the right way when it comes to employment standards. We create a positive, inclusive environment that makes East West Rail a great place to work.
About the role:
This role plays an important part in shaping the moments that matter across all stages of the employee lifecycle. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone developing their career within a People Team. You'll gain exposure to a wide range of people focussed activities, while supporting everyone at East West Rail to learn, grow, and be their best.
As a key member within the team, you'll help coordinate learning and development activities, support employee engagement activities, organise events and craft communications, making sure our people processes run smoothly. You'll work with a wide range of teams across the business, building valuable relationships and developing a broad understanding of how people and culture contribute to business success.
-
Support the coordination and administration of learning and development activities.
- Manage training schedules, bookings, communications, and learning records.
- Support the onboarding experience for new starters.
- Assist with employee engagement, wellbeing, and recognition initiatives.
- Support team events, workshops, and team activities.
- Manage our shared team inboxes for learning and internal communications.
- Create and distribute engaging people communications.
- Maintain accurate records, trackers, and people systems.
- Gather feedback and insights to help us continuously improve the people experience.
- Provide day-to-day support for the Head of People Experience and the wider team.
- Take responsibility for your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
- Demonstrate a cost-conscious mindset, keeping tax payers’ money at the forefront of decisions.
- Act as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.
-
A genuine interest for people, culture, and learning.
- Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Energy, positivity and a customer-focussed mindset.
- A proactive attitude and a willingness to learn.
- The ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
- Confidence in using the Microsoft Office suite.
- Previous experience in using a Content Management System (CMS) and Canva is beneficial.
- Previous experience in administration, customer service, events, communications or HR is beneficial.
Our people make the difference. Working at EWR, you’ll be part of a team that’s collaborative, supportive, and passionate about what we do. Our culture is built on inclusion, trust, and flexibility. We prioritise wellbeing so you can thrive personally and professionally. Here, your voice matters, and you’ll feel truly connected and empowered.
As part of Team EWR, you’ll gain unique breadth, influence, and development that shapes your career. It's a chance to do your best work and make a meaningful impact.
Our hybrid working approach is all about finding the right balance - supporting productivity and flexibility.
Our benefits package is designed to support you through every life stage helping you to be your best, plan for the future, and keep you growing.
- Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
- Up to 12% employer pension contribution to support your future
- 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) plus the option to buy up to 2 extra days
- 2 volunteering days, a chance for you to give back to the community
- Enhanced family-friendly policies to support you and your loved ones
- Find your tribe with our Pride, EWR Women in Rail, Culture Collective and Ability employee network groups
- Life assurance (4x your annual salary) for peace of mind
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential support when you need it
- Access to Perkbox for a wide range of discounts and wellbeing benefits
- Recognition programme, including quarterly and annual awards
- Advanced learning and development opportunities to help you grow and a structured Welcome Day to help you get up to speed quickly.
Diversity and Inclusion:
At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple - to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive. If you require any adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know.
We are committed to improving representation across the rail and infrastructure sectors and particularly encourage applications from women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, disabled people and others who are currently underrepresented.
This job description outlines key responsibilities but is not exhaustive. Responsibilities may evolve as the programme develops.
East West Railway Company is a new and exciting venture at the forefront of the changing landscape of the rail industry, delivering substantial fast-paced improvement to modernise the railway.
