You would be joining approximately 70 office-based colleagues at our Head Office in York and almost 160 Tour Managers from diverse backgrounds and a wide range of ages and life experience – all of whom gain personal satisfaction from ensuring that Great Rail Journeys customers have a relaxing and memorable holiday.

For office-based opportunities, please send a copy of your CV and reasons why we should interview you to our HR Manager, Linda Northwood. Linda can be reached on 01904 521908. All new opportunities are detailed below and we would encourage you to regularly check this section of our website. Click here for current office-based opportunities.

For Tour Manager opportunities, please email our TM Manager, Jackie Igoe to request an application form. Click here for current Tour Manager opportunities.

STOP PRESS!

Great Rail Journeys Triumph at Business Awards

Great Rail Journeys, the UK's market leading tour operator for escorted holidays by rail has scooped two prestigious prizes at The Press Business Awards, one of Yorkshire's premier award ceremonies.

The glittering event, which took place at York Racecourse on Thursday 14th November, seeks to recognise business success within the region and reward exceptional performance. Great Rail Journeys was in a celebratory mood after clinching the 'Growth Business of the Year' title and then adding the event's ultimate accolade, 'The John Guy Memorial Award for Business of the Year'.

Judges were hugely impressed with how in the past two years the tour operator's offerings had more than doubled, from 63 itineraries to over 130, responding to the growing demand for escorted holidays by rail. During the last financial year turnover has soared by 17% to more than £50 million, whilst passenger numbers broke 35,000 for the first time.

Managing Director Steve Kimber said: "It is an honour to receive awards acknowledging the hard work and dedication of our employees and the quality of service we provide.

"Great Rail Journeys takes great pride in providing the best possible holiday experience for our customers. I am pleased to say that this commitment is recognised by the fact that over 90% of our customers say they would recommend Great Rail Journeys to a friend and over 70% book with us again.

"2009 will see the introduction of 25 new tours and the launch of a brand new programme of holidays by rail tailored especially for single travellers. By offering even more choice and maintaining our high standards and dedication to our customers we will be able to provide the opportunity for even more people to experience a Great Rail Journey".

Current Office opportunities:

Thank you for enquiring about employment opportunities with Great Rail Journeys.

We are growing at an ever increasing rate, and welcome speculative CV's from individuals (no agencies, thanks!).  We will read them and keep them on record for six months - so even if we don't contact you straightaway, that doesn't mean we won't in future

Please submit a full CV and covering letter to recruitment@greatrail.com  and if a suitable vacancy arises within the area you have expressed an interest, we will contact you.

Current Tour Manager opportunities:

Tour Manager recruitment for 2009

Following our recent Selection Days, we now have our full complement of Tour Managers for the 2009 season and have ceased active selection.  If you are interested in becoming a self-employed Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys in 2010, we would be pleased to hear from you in August 2009 when we will be sending out application forms.

We look forward to hearing from you next August.

The role of the Tour Manager:
You could be a suitable candidate for the Tour Manager Role if you meet the following criteria: have excellent leadership and organisational abilities, can quickly and efficiently solve diverse problems, are diplomatic and friendly, can demonstrate a good understanding of European and Worldwide rail travel, are well-travelled, are available to work an average of 80 days per year, are proficient in a European language in addition to English, and have a thoroughly professional approach.

A view from one of our Tour Managers:
"For those who are outgoing and well-organised, have genuine leadership skills, are tactful and discreet, like and are interested in people, appreciate beautiful scenery and wonderful city sights and can impart enthusiasm to others, are unflappable, and enjoy travelling by train, there are few jobs more enjoyable and fulfilling than to be a Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys.

"But it’s hard work too.  It’s crucial that you prepare carefully for each trip.  As soon as you receive your allocation of tours, it’s sensible to start reading up on where you are going and what you are likely to see.  You don’t need to be a walking Beidecker on each city you visit, but it’s as well to learn in advance a bit of the country’s history, its system of government, familiarise yourself with local customs and laws.  In most places GRJ offers a superb local guide who knows more about the attractions of their city than you will ever learn from a guidebook – rely on them to provide the local colour and knowledge.

"You should aim to be that sort of dinner guest who can chat intelligently to strangers about interesting things without boring them rigid with too much detail and trivia.  Be willing to listen as well.  You’ll find some really interesting people take part in GRJ holidays – doctors, lawyers, police officers, civil servants, teachers, priests, captains of industry.  Sometimes they want to remain incognito – even if they tell you their secrets, they may not want others to know, so be sure you respect confidences. You will enjoy their company: do your best to get to know every one of them individually during the course of the holiday.

"It’s vital that you plan each day with great care.  Make sure you know where you are supposed to be meeting your passengers and when.  Check out in advance which platform your train is leaving from, and where in the train your reserved seats are.  Be willing to be firm (but courteous) if others are sitting in your allocated seats.  Watch out for pickpockets everywhere, especially on busy stations where you have only a short time to connect trains.  Think through where and when your passengers will be able to get some refreshments, and don’t forget to plan loo stops!!

"The service you get from the GRJ office in York is superb.  Not only are they very, very nice people, they’re efficient as well, and there to help you.  Don’t bother them with trivia, but don’t be afraid to ask if there’s something about your holiday you don’t understand.  Above all, read the tour manager’s notes sent to you by the York office several times, and follow the instructions to the letter."

Richard Faulkner, Tour Manager for Great Rail Journeys