North of England bus operator Transdev has collaborated with apprenticeships provider Total People to launch ‘SkillUp’, a programme targeting the UK’s engineer deficit.
Under the SkillUp initiative, Transdev trainees, in collaboration with Total People, will undergo rigorous training covering various aspects, including health and safety, workshop management, and advanced diagnostics.
The scheme aims to attract fresh entrants and inspire those seeking a career shift into engineering workshops. Transdev’s strategic focus is to extend the offering beyond recent school or college graduates, with an objective to motivate employees – including current bus drivers – to undertake training and become accredited engineers.
The move also seeks to harness and develop the expertise required to maintain the next generation of battery-operated buses.
Transdev subsidiary Rosso’s Engineering Manager in Rochdale, Michael Toner, an enthusiast of the programme, says: “It’s a brilliant opportunity to gain a qualification that’s in demand, and for those currently driving buses, a chance to take their career in a new direction.”
Total People’s Managing Director, Mel Nicholson, expresses his eagerness about the partnership: “We were really excited when we first started to discuss the SkillUp scheme with Transdev… we can’t wait to see all the new faces, and maybe some familiar ones.”
Highlighting the broader context, Transdev Operations Director, Vitto Pizzuti, adds: “As we head towards an electric future, promising trainee engineers are going to be vital on our road ahead. The new technology is exciting but it can be complex – that’s why we need adaptable people with a passion for electronics as well as mechanical engineering.
“Colleagues who switch from another role such as driving to join SkillUp will remain on their current pay rate throughout their qualification period, before progressing to our engineering rates – among the best in the bus industry – once fully qualified. It’s another way we’re showing our commitment to retaining and developing our people.”
