A record number of apprentices graduated in the coach and bus industry in 2024, with 605 drivers and 91 engineers successfully completing their training, the CPT reports, with graduations up by 19% on the previous year. Of those qualifying, a third were aged under 25. The figure brought the total number of apprentices to graduate in the bus industry to 2,202 over five years – comprising 1,780 drivers and 422 engineers.
Whilst the majority of apprentices were trained in London, there were smaller numbers in all parts of England, from Torbay to Tyneside and from West Sussex to Westmorland, according to figures compiled by the Confederation of Passenger Transport to mark National Apprenticeships Week.
The Government recently overhauled funding for apprenticeships by announcing that a new Growth and Skills Levy will replace the Apprenticeships Levy; the new scheme allows for funding for training of less than 12 months and a new body, Skills England, will assess priority skills of the future. Operations Director at the Confederation of Passenger Transport Keith McNally said: “Apprenticeships are a terrific way of bringing new talent into the bus and coach industry. The opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ has broad appeal and opens up careers to young people and career switchers alike.
“In common with many other industries, bus and coach operators have struggled with the bureaucracy and rigidity of the Apprenticeships Levy. So we welcome steps taken by the Government to overhaul the levy and to open up funding for shorter courses.”
The CPT highlighted some of those who are undertaking apprenticeships throughout the country; see page 34 for more stories from apprentices across the sector.
Zoe Sparks is driver apprentice at First’s Halifax depot, and is one of the first apprentices to successfully pass through the new apprenticeship and to gain her qualification in one year. Prior to joining First Bus, Zoe was working in Finance and decided to make a change in her career. She said: “I’ve really enjoyed all aspects of the apprenticeship, the variety and all the things I am learning. My career in bus has been really rewarding so far and the support from other more experienced bus drivers has been invaluable. I am looking forward to helping people get to where they need to go and connecting people with the local community through the bus. I love being a bus driver and everything the job brings.”
Zack Cross is an Engineering Apprentice studying for Bus & Coach (NVQ Level 3) and is based at Go-Ahead’s Hedingham & Chambers depot in Clacton, Essex. For Zack, an apprenticeship was preferable to going to university as there was more emphasis on practical learning, as well as the opportunity to earn a wage at the same time. Zack says his favourite things about working for Go East Anglia are the positive atmosphere and the support network created by more experienced colleagues. He adds that he welcomes the challenges that come his way so that he can push himself and develop further by asking questions and getting things done to achieve results. In future, he says he wants to continue on his path of development and aims to be an Engineering Manager.
Chloe Moncrieff-Jury has successfully passed her stores apprenticeship at First’s Camborne depot. She has been with the business for over three years, following her father’s footsteps into the industry; her dad, Ian, is an Operations Manager for First in Cornwall.
Chloe initially joined the company’s cleaning team before stepping up into her new role in the stores team.
She said: “I wanted to do an apprenticeship so that I could get a qualification while I worked and earned a living. I have learned a lot during my apprenticeship, and I feel that it has helped me get my foot in the door to the industry that I want to work in. Initially, I was dubious about starting my course due to the mixture of education and workplace learning, but I quickly came to realise that there was nothing to worry about! I was very fortunate to have a wonderful skills coach and a great team of engineers around me.
“I hope to use the knowledge and transferable skills that I have gained through my apprenticeship, to support my goals of a future engineering career.”
