Member Article

All Aboard For a Career In Engineering

Five young people from the north east are now looking forward to a career in engineering thanks to an apprenticeship scheme operated by Stagecoach North East.

The company has just taken on five apprentices to train at their depots in Newcastle, Teesside, South Shields and Sunderland.

21-year old Michael Cooper is in the first year of the scheme, gaining hands-on practical training alongside studying at college in Glasgow over six one week blocks each year.

After studying for an NVQ Level 3 qualification in Engineering, Michael is looking forward to adding to his skills and developing his career in engineering. He said: “I have always found engineering very interesting, especially as my family have worked in the engineering sector too, and it is also useful for projects outside of work. The course is very ‘hands on’ and practical and I am really enjoying it.”

17-year old Aidan Thomas from South Shields said: “After studying for my AS Levels in Maths, History and Graphic Design, I decided not to go to university but instead to pursue a career in electrical engineering, as I love seeing how stuff comes together and how it works. As my Dad is also an engineer, it made more sense, and already I have been getting hands on with changing a starter motor.”

21-year old Peter Billyard from Peterlee said: “I have always liked working with engines and getting my hands dirty so I am really pleased to be here. As I am the first in my family to study engineering, they are very proud.”

Charlie Marshall, 16 from Eaglescliffe and Joe Cowell, 22 from Middlesbrough are very much looking forward to the next four years. Charlie said: “The Stagecoach course is a really good apprentice scheme and the perfect one for me. It is really practical, which is something that I enjoy so it is right up my street. Straight away it has been very ‘hands on’, servicing buses, and as I am the first in my family to study engineering, they are very proud.”

The four-year programme involves a combination of residential training undertaking the Technical Certificate in Bus and Coach Engineering Maintenance and on the job training at a local depot. As apprentices, they will learn all aspects of vehicle maintenance through their workshop experience, preparing vehicles for the road, conducting MOT’s and making repairs. As part of the training programme, every apprentice is guided by a nominated mentor from the company who will provide support and advice throughout the four-year scheme.

Gary Chisholm, Engineering Director at Stagecoach North East, said: “We are committed to developing our staff, and offering apprenticeship opportunities is a great way to bring young people into the company and nurture their skills from the outset of their professional career. The four-year course gives all our apprentices the opportunity to train while earning and we find that once qualified our trainees remain with the company for most if not all of their working life.

“The Group training scheme has produced a number of competent skilled staff in all the engineering skill ranges over the years the programme has been running and I am sure that this year’s intake of first year apprentices will enjoy the experience.”

On successful completion of the training, the apprentices will be awarded an Apprenticeship in Bus and Coach Engineering Maintenance qualification and will then have the opportunity to become a licensed member of IRTEC (The Institute of Road Transport Engineers).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Clapham .