It's #NationalApprenticeshipWeek!

 

It's #NationalApprenticeshipWeek and here Metrobus, we recognise the hard work and dedication our up-and-coming talents put in every day.

At Metrobus, we provide apprenticeships in collaboration with S&B Automotive Academy in Bristol. This allows apprentices to gain hands-on experience in bus maintenance and engineering, all while pursuing an IMI Bus and Coach Engineering Technician Standard (Mechelec) qualification.

Chris Stringer, Engineering Director, started his own career as an apprentice at Oxford Bus in 2004. He said: “Apprenticeships are a win-win for apprentices and employers. It’s a fantastic career path for individuals to develop professionally and personally, and an opportunity for us to recruit and train future talent with the skills our business needs.  

“Our apprentices are making a huge impact: they bring enthusiasm, innovation and commitment to their work and we look forward to seeing their careers develop and how they progress through our business.” 

We interviewed Harley Stanbridge, an Engineering Apprentice here at Metrobus, to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Harley Stanbridge is one year into his apprenticeship and is still enjoying the challenge. He spends one week per month in Bristol at college and three weeks working on our Metrobus fleet at our Crawley depot. Watch the YouTube interview above or click here!

We interviewed two more of our past and present apprentices to mark National Apprenticeship Week: here’s what they had to say... 

Person wearing high-vis fixing an engine of a bus with the words 'Meet Kylie' and 'National Apprenticeship Week'

Kylie Griffiths | “You learn so much – there’s so much variety.” 

While working as an agency cleaner with us back in 2015, Kylie saw an opening for our apprenticeship programme and took her chance. Kylie completed her apprenticeship in 2019 and is now a qualified multi-skilled shift engineer, helping keep our fleet on the road. 

We caught up with her as she used a torque wrench on a wheel.

“I would definitely recommend apprenticeships,” says Kylie. “The best part of it is that they are work-based – you learn so much through doing the job.

“In my role now, there is so much variety; we do everything from body to electrics to mechanics, as well as attending breakdowns out on the road. It is a great team to be part of.” 

Person wearing high-vis with arms foldedwith words that say 'Meet Ted' and 'National Apprenticeship Week'

Ted Packham | “Your work gets a bus back out on the road.” 

Ted’s apprenticeship began in July 2023. Ted’s four-year course allows him to get a wide variety of firsthand experience at one of our depots, complementing the theory and practical skills he learns at college in Bristol.  

“The best thing about being an engineer is the feeling when something goes right – like finding a fault in an engine, thinking through the problem, and then solving it. Your work gets a bus back out on the road…”

“I have learned so much by doing this apprenticeship. My day-to-day tasks include servicing the buses; quite grimy engine work; and checking that our buses are safe and ready to go out on the road to serve customers,” says Ted. “For me, apprenticeships are the best way to start a career. You get to go straight into work while also getting a qualification. I would recommend them to anyone!”