UK Apprenticeship Awards

Stagecoach West apprentices triumph in national awards

Apprenticeships have been a cornerstone of industry for thousands of years, following the time-honoured tradition of learning alongside experienced and qualified mentors.

Stagecoach UK runs an award-winning apprenticeship scheme for aspiring engineers, endorsed and certified by the Institute of the Motor Industry. For over twenty years, this programme has successfully launched the careers of hundreds of Stagecoach employees, many of whom have advanced to become Engineering Managers and Directors within the company.

A recent national award ceremony recognised the achievements of Stagecoach’s current cohort, with a number of apprentices from the West Directorate picking up prizes, including:

• Helen Plumb (Witney depot), GTG College Apprentice Recognition award winner
• Amber King (Stroud depot), Stagecoach UK Future Leader award winner
• Oliwier Kieltyka (Banbury depot), Stagecoach UK Supporting Community award winner
• Leszek Moszkowicz (Cheltenham depot), Stagecoach West Apprentice of the Year award winner

Stagecoach West Engineering Director, Tom Large commented “It was great to travel with a big group of our apprentices and managers to the Stagecoach UK Apprentice Award event, held in Manchester. Well done to Helen, Amber, Oliwier, and Leszek for picking up well deserved awards.” Tom continues, “The Stagecoach apprentice scheme continues to produce a wealth of talent and is a great option for people of all ages wanting to move into the bus industry, or engineering in general.”

The Stagecoach Apprenticeship Scheme is a comprehensive four-year programme. It begins with three years of hands-on practical learning at a bus depot, complemented by attendance at a specialised training college. During this period, apprentices work towards achieving the Bus and Coach Engineering Technician Standard qualification. Each apprentice is paired with an experienced mentor who provides guidance and support throughout the programme.

Upon successful completion, apprentices become eligible for membership with the Society of Operations Engineers, further enhancing their professional journey. The fourth year is a bespoke, award-winning program crafted by Stagecoach UK Bus, designed to further hone skills through participation in a diverse range of in-house and manufacturer's technical courses.