Hiring and Sponsoring Rail travel assistants (SOC Code 6214)

Rail Travel Assistants, classified under SOC Code 6214, play a vital role in the smooth operation of railway stations and trains, ensuring a safe and efficient travel experience for all passengers. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks, including:

• Examining and Collecting Tickets: Conduct ticket checks at barriers to facilitate passenger entry and ensure compliance with fare policies.
• Passenger Support: Provide assistance with passenger enquiries, making important announcements over public address systems in stations.
• Cargo Management: Load and unload mail, goods, and luggage while operating necessary equipment such as lifts and hoists.
• Special Needs Assistance: Support passengers with special needs to board and alight trains, ensuring accessibility and comfort.
• Safety and Comfort: Attend to the safety, welfare, and comfort of passengers throughout their journey, managing the train crew effectively.
• Control Checks: Inspect control panel operations prior to journey commencement, and operate train door controls while signaling the driver to start or stop the train.
• Ticket Inspections: Issue and inspect tickets on board while addressing further passenger queries and managing goods being transported.

With the increasing demand for efficient rail services in the UK, opportunities for skilled rail travel assistants are on the rise. This guide will assist HR professionals in navigating the hiring and sponsoring process for rail travel assistants under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Rail travel assistants?

SOC Code 6214 refers to rail travel assistants who provide essential services at railway stations and on trains. Their responsibilities can include:

• Examining and collecting tickets: Checking tickets at the ticket barrier of a railway station to ensure compliance.
• Assisting with passenger enquiries: Answering questions and providing information to passengers regarding train schedules and services.
• Making announcements: Using the public address system to communicate important information to passengers at stations.
• Loading and unloading: Handling mail, goods, and luggage, ensuring safe and efficient transfer.
• Operating lifts and hoists: Assisting passengers with mobility challenges to navigate the station.
• Driving small trucks: Transporting goods and materials around the station as needed.
• Assisting passengers with special needs: Helping those who require additional support to board and exit trains comfortably.
• Attending to passenger safety and welfare: Overseeing the comfort of passengers on trains and ensuring their well-being.
• Managing train crew: Coordinating tasks with the train crew to ensure smooth operations.
• Checking control panel operation: Verifying functionality before the start of a journey.
• Operating train door controls: Managing train door operations and signaling the driver to start or stop.
• Inspections and ticket issuance: Conducting ticket checks on trains and addressing passenger inquiries during the journey.
• Taking charge of goods: Managing the transportation of goods being carried on the train.

Rail travel assistants play a vital role in the smooth operation of rail services, enhancing passenger experience and ensuring travel safety.

Eligibility to Hire Rail travel assistants (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Rail travel assistants must exhibit strong customer service skills and fulfill specific qualifications associated with the role. These may include:

• Ticketing Skills: The ability to examine and collect tickets accurately at ticket barriers, ensuring compliance with transportation regulations.
• Communication Skills: Proficiency in assisting passengers with inquiries, making announcements over public address systems, and providing clear information during emergencies.
• Physical Abilities: Capability to load and unload mail, goods, and luggage, as well as operate lifts, hoists, and small trucks efficiently.
• Support for Special Needs: Experience in assisting passengers with special requirements, ensuring their comfort and security while boarding and alighting from trains.
• Safety Awareness: Knowledge in attending to the safety, welfare, and comfort of passengers on trains, including managing train crew effectively.
• Operational Familiarity: Understanding of inspecting and operating control panels, train door controls, and signaling systems to ensure smooth train operations.
• Customer Relations: Skills in handling ticket inspections, addressing passenger inquiries onboard, and managing the transport of goods securely.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 6214 and that the candidate's experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Rail travel assistants: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Rail travel assistants under SOC Code 6214.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Rail travel assistants, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Rail travel assistants under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Rail travel assistants. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Rail travel assistants applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Rail travel assistants’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorshipfor a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Rail travel assistants can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Rail travel assistants

Before the Rail travel assistants begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Rail travel assistants’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Rail travel assistants holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Rail travel assistants’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Rail travel assistants’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Rail travel assistantss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Rail travel assistants

Sponsoring Rail travel assistants under SOC Code 6214 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Rail travel assistants, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Rail travel assistants under SOC Code 6214 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.