Academy for bus drivers

A TRAINING academy for bus drivers has been set up by a collaboration between Warrington Collegiate and bus companies Merseytravel and Stagecoach.
It supports the Government’ s initiative for the unemployed, Get Britain Working and offers young people and adults in receipt of benefits work experience, accredited pre-employment training, as well as the skillset and confidence to gain employment.
Linked to an existing recruitment need that Stagecoach has for trainee bus-drivers, the Collegiate delivered a five week course, designed in conjunction with Merseytravel, to 12 participants selected from more than 70 applicants supplied by Jobcentre Plus.
In addition to the classroom element of the training the students spent a week at the Stagecoach depot and received practical driving training.
They were also given a tour of the busy Queens Square bus station and heard lectures from key Merseytravel staff to support their learning experience.
After the course Stagecoach interviewed the students, giving them valuable job interview experience. They will also be considered for any current vacancies.
Councillor Liam Robinson, chairman of Merseytravel said : “Working with bus operators and Warrington Collegiate is a great way of offering the right training to equip candidates with the appropriate knowledge and experience they will need.
“It’s great to see that partners such as Stagecoach are working hard to offer their passengers a world class service and by working with providers like Warrington Collegiate, their new employees are given the skills to provide it.”
Brian Jones, a student on the course, said: “This is a great opportunity to get real knowledge and experience of the job before we even apply. Obviously nothing’s guaranteed but this course has put me in a really strong position to get a job with Stagecoach in the future.”
Paul Hafren, principal at Warrington Collegiate added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Merseytravel and Stagecoach. As a college our aim for our students is that they are enterprising, highly skilled and professional, well prepared for the rigours of the job market of the 21st century.”
Only 10 of the 12 students finished the five week course as two secured employment before completing their training.
Pictured: Students with Warrington Collegiate tutors, Joe Commerford (front row centre left) and Paul Ralphson (front row centre right)