Monday 26th November: Metroline launched London’s first bus driver apprenticeship that will provide support, training and upskilling over a period of 12 months to 24 new apprentices.
The 24 successfully selected apprentices to join Metroline’s new programme will be involved in modules designed to help develop confidence and encourage skills development, with practical hands on and classroom based training, whilst being paid to learn and train to become a bus driver for one of London’s leading bus operators.
The apprenticeship with be delivered within the framework of the Apprentice Levy arrangements, using a combination of practical training and off-the-job learning which is supported by our training partner Interserve.
Coinciding with the launch of Metroline’s Bus Driver Apprenticeship, Metroline also officially opened new training centres at its Cricklewood and Willesden Junction garages. The ‘Metroline Centres for Skills and Development’ are new training facilities equipped with modern interactive training aids and will be used for training and skills development across the business ranging from Management Training to improving basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Commenting on these events, Metroline’s CEO Sean O’Shea said:
“Metroline have run an award-winning, industry leading engineering apprenticeship for a number of years now and as a result, we understand the positive benefits that apprenticeships can bring to our industry and the communities that we operate in. Being able to extend this now to include drivers is a very positive step forward and combined with launching our new Metroline Centres for Skills and Development, this highlights our continued commitment to investing in our people.”
Claire Mann, Director of Bus Operations at TfL, said:
“We’re delighted that Metroline are introducing this apprenticeship scheme that will give people vital life skills and training. Bus drivers are the lifeblood of this city and anything that encourages more Londoners to consider a rewarding and vital career as a driver on our historic and iconic buses is good for the capital.”
Ron Capper, Head of Metroline’s Recruitment and Training said:
“We have a great training team at Metroline that continually sets the standards in terms of delivering training excellence so that our drivers are prepared and able to provide the safest driving standards and an excellent customer experience. We are confident that our new apprentices will really benefit from this initiative and will have a great experience gaining confidence, new skills and an additional recognised qualification.”
