People who are aged over 25 account for 73% of current Stagecoach driver apprentice course participants, the group has said.
In data around that route to the profession shared during National Apprenticeship Week, the group adds that in 2026, up to 100 new driver apprentices per month will join. It is the only bus operator to include the courses as part of a wider Driving Excellence programme across England outside London, providing a fully-funded Level 2 qualification.
As of February, Stagecoach is supporting 218 active driver apprentices. Of those, 45, or 20%, are women.
It notes that with almost three-quarters of active apprentice drivers being aged over 25, there is a debunking of a common misconception that apprenticeships are only for young people – proving that a pivot into the transport industry is “accessible at any life stage.”
This year marks what Stagecoach adds is the most ambitious period for its workforce development. Its Level 2 driver apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with training provider Realise. That course lasts 12-14 months and consists of:
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- Structured learning that balances on-the-job experience with off-the-road technical training
- Full funding, supported by the Apprenticeship Levy and regulated by ESPA UK
- Driving excellence via integration into a wider corporate programme that provides support and engagement beyond standard training requirements.
Since launching its driver apprentice scheme in 2018, Stagecoach has seen over 1,000 successfully graduations. Speaking about the programme’s success, Head of Talent Acquisition and Employability Ben Gledhill says: “Developing safe, confident and customer-focused drivers is central to everything we do.
“By embedding apprenticeships into our core Driving Excellence model, we are not just teaching people to drive a bus; we are investing in a standard of quality and consistency that defines the future of public transport.”
Apprenticeships also continue to prosper in the Stagecoach engineering function. In FY2024/25 it saw 55 such apprentices graduate across England, Scotland and Wales.
The operator partners with GTG Training to deliver a mechelec and body apprenticeship on a three-year intensive journey. It covers mechanical, electric and bodywork skills.
Stagecoach provides a fourth year of continued support involving external supplier-led courses to ensure that technicians transition into their qualified roles with maximum confidence and technical capability.
