TRAIN operator Northern is looking to recruit up to 21 new conductors across the region over the next 12 months.

The company, which runs services on the Airedale line, says applicants don't need any previous rail industry experience.

Once fully qualified, conductors earn £29,000 a year and have benefits including free train travel.

Initial training is over 12 weeks and the apprenticeship is complete in a year.

Kerry Peters, regional director for Northern, says: "The days when apprenticeships were just for school or college leavers are long gone, but that perception remains and it can be a barrier to more experienced people putting in an application.

"Lots of jobs have transferable skills that the rail industry can benefit from, so anyone that fancies taking their career in a completely fresh direction should give it a go.

"Some of the people working onboard our trains today started their careers in very different arenas, from the prison service and cabin crew to social care and financial services.

"No one should think the railway ‘isn’t for them’ – it’s an industry with much to offer."

Recruitment for the first of the 21 positions is already underway, and the deadline for applications is next Sunday (September 24).

Further vacancies will be advertised between now and August next year.

For more information and details of how to register for job alerts, visit northernrailway.co.uk/careers.