East Yorkshire Buses is strengthening the reliability of its services by developing the skills of their engineers.
Its parent company Go-Ahead is making a multi-million-pound investment in engineering. This includes creating two leading engineering academies to train new apprentices and to upskill its 900 engineers across the UK.
Engineers at East Yorkshire Buses maintain over 220 buses and coaches across 6 depots with 27 Zero Emission Buses set to arrive over the next 18 months. They will attend the engineering academies to refine their skills and knowledge, learn about new technologies, gain zero-emission bus qualifications and prepare them for future management roles.
New apprentices will initially learn about complex mechanical and electrical systems in classrooms and in real-life settings before joining East Yorkshire Buses to learn on the job whilst gaining a qualification and earning a wage. The programme will be delivered in partnership with S&B Automative Academy, one of the leading providers of apprenticeships to the automotive sector and will include placements with some of Go-Ahead’s other partners. Dedicated mentors will help guide and support recruits throughout the programme.
The investment into engineering will support safer, more reliable and greener public transport.
Ben Gilligan, Managing Director, East Yorkshire Buses said: “We have a long track record of supporting apprentices in East Yorkshire with over 25% of our skilled staff having joined the apprenticeship programme since the acquisition of the business by The Go Ahead Group in 2018. The opportunities for development are immense and I am really pleased that our engineering team is currently led by a former East Yorkshire apprentice which shows that there is a lifelong career available to people who chose to join us.”
This investment forms part of Go-Ahead’s commitment to have a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035.
Emma Hardy MP said, “I am delighted that East Yorkshire Buses is recruiting new engineering apprentices in Hull and East Yorkshire. This initiative presents a fantastic opportunity for local people to get a head start in acquiring the essential skills and knowledge required in this fast changing industry, as East Yorkshire Buses advances towards its goal of a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. Coupled with the government’s recent funding announcement for new zero-emission buses across Hull and East Yorkshire, this initiative marks a significant milestone in our shared mission to improve local bus services and create high quality jobs in our area.”
Corey Hough, body shop apprentice, East Yorkshire Buses said: “I would highly recommend joining East Yorkshire Buses as an apprentice. The apprenticeship scheme is a brilliant way to start a new career on the buses and is open to anybody who either wants to try something new and is just starting out, or someone who has interests in the trade. I started here trying something new in September last year, with minimal skills at the time. Over the months I have been here, everyone has been so helpful and taught me many skills that were completely new to me. I came straight here from leaving Year 11, and I haven’t looked back since!”
