Three young unemployed people have been given full-time jobs at Thameslink stations after graduating from a programme run with youth charity The Prince’s Trust.

The three were part of a group of 11 who gained work experience and training in customer service at stations in Bedford, Luton, Luton Airport Parkway, Harpenden, St Albans, Elstree and London St Pancras and King’s Cross under Thameslink’s ‘Get Into Railways’ programme.

Thameslink’s passenger service director Stuart Cheshire said: “We identified three superstars from the group who we’re taking on full-time because they fit in with the attitudes and behaviours that can really change our business.

“The moment I met them at our end of course celebration event I said, ‘We have to keep these people in our organisation!’ We may also be able to find positions for the other eight if commercial conditions allow over the next 12 months.”

Tom Fuller and Michael Suszek, both 21 and from Luton, are working on the ticket gates at Bedford and as a St Albans platform assistant respectively.

Becky Emery, 20, of Flitwick, is working on the ticket gates at St Albans.

Becky said: “I left school without any qualifications and everyone asks for five GCSEs and it is so hard to get an interview. I’d kind of lost hope doing part-time dead-end jobs. Now I’m doing something I am proud of. This is life changing.”

The ‘Get Into Railways’ programme gave all 11 18-25 year olds a free four-week, two-day programme which was split into learning and a two-week work placement at a station. By learning about customer service at stations, Thameslink gives delegates the confidence and skills to make them ready for either work, further education or an apprenticeship.