Doncaster firm recruiting skilled and semi-skilled jobs, as investment and rising demand drive growth

Lucchini Unipart Rail (LUR) opened its new facility in Doncaster a year ago, as part of a multimillion-pound investment programme.

Demand for its high-quality work in producing and overhauling bogies for passenger, freight and light rail trains and vehicles has grown from customers across the UK. Its success means it is looking to expand and recruit permanent skilled and semi-skilled workers.

What does LUR do?

The company makes, mends and overhauls bogies, wheelsets and brakes – basically anything below the carriage of trains and rail vehicles. Different types of train, different rails and even where the rails run – coast or country, warmer or colder – has an impact on how these essential parts wear down.

The 70 employees at LUR in Doncaster include skilled and semi-skilled workers, taking apart, overhauling and rebuilding these parts or making new ones.

“We think of ourselves as the UK’s premier overhauler because of the quality of our product. These new facilities allow us to be at the cutting edge of this industry,” explained strategic account manager Alex Howe.

The Doncaster works used to be in former British Rail premises in Hexthorpe, but the dated facilities didn’t match today’s high-quality skills and demands. The purpose-built 102,000 sq ft bogie service facility is a few miles down the road in Warmsworth, and is double the size.

“It’s a very labour-intensive business,” said David Brown, site and operations manager. “It’s not something that can be automated, we need people who can physically inspect the parts.”

David said the firm is looking to double its output in 2027, and has many long-term contracts – so these are not short-term roles. It’s good news for this part of Doncaster, which has seen jobs lost in the manufacturing sector recently.

Seeking skilled and semi-skilled workers

David says they want to boost that workforce from 70 to 100 in the coming months and there are roles for mechanical fitters and semi-skilled staff, but also opportunities for unskilled workers, who have never done this kind of work before.

Diversity

The company has a proud reputation for encouraging a diverse workforce across skillsets and backgrounds, and proactively supports Women in Rail, which encourages more women into the profession. It already has women working on the shop-floor, as well as in the office and would welcome more. And David says the mix of ages, experiences and backgrounds makes it a strong workforce to join.

Dave said they have recruited from very varied backgrounds – people from sales or offices, who have had no previous experience.

“We want pro-active and dynamic individuals who want to come and do a good day’s work,” said Dave. And there are plenty of rewards for those who want to progress.

The company has its own training co-ordinator to ensure training in both the everyday aspects of the job and also safe working and best engineering practices. The firm is also committed to developing talent.

“Every six months we take a cohort of semi-skilled workers and train them up to be skilled,” said David.

Benefits of working for LUR

The Warmsworth site is close to the motorway and easily accessible by car, as well as having a bus stop about 300 yards away. Workers come from across South Yorkshire.

Shifts are 6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday, with and early finish on Friday at 11.30 for the early shift and 4.45 for the later one.

Overtime is often available for longer hours beyond the 37-hour working week, or at weekends for those who wish to boost their earnings and there is a 13% shift allowance for alternating shift patterns.

Staff have the option to buy additional holidays on top of the 25 days per year plus statutory bank holidays, and are entitled to a contributory pension service (5% from the employer) and death in service.

There are various health benefits including free eye tests and annual flu vaccinations. All staff are provided with uniforms, parking is free, there’s a cycle to work scheme and online kitchen facilities.

The business shuts over Christmas and there’s an annual Christmas dinner for all.

Apply now

Lucchini RS Group is based in Italy, and before it joined forces with Unipart, was a major supplier from its forge in Italy, where wheels and wheelsets are still made and sent to the new Warmsworth site.

To find out more about the company, and how to apply for one of the roles on offer visit the website here.