Belle Vue Manchester is celebrating gaining one of the country’s youngest drivers after Tobi Dekker gained his PCV licence aged just 19 recently.
The youngster, who started working for the Stockport-based operator in the evenings while still at school, is now driving school buses and public services.
Mr Dekker had initially helped with cleaning vehicles before moving to the operations team to work on route planning. Following his taking his GCSEs in 2021, he began to work full-time three as Transport Consultant.
After gaining his car licence aged 18, he fulfilled a dream by being allowed to get behind the wheel of a bus and is now enjoying the 5.30am starts.
He says: “It hardly feels like I’m working when I’m on driving duties because I enjoy it so much. It’s a dream come true.
“It’s great to be out on the road and meeting the passengers. Belle Vue prides itself on having a great rapport with passengers, and I love being part of that. People often comment how nice it is to see a young driver.
“However, I do a lot more at Belle Vue besides driving – I also have a lot of experience of working in the office on the operational side of the business and helping to ensure our services run as smoothly as possible.”
Mr Dekker is already targeting his next career move with his eye on gaining the Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence.
Belle Vue Managing Director Phil Hitchen adds: “From his days as a school student, Tobi has advanced with the company through roles as a bus planner and operations assistant, and has now attained his goal of qualifying as a bus driver.
“We pride ourselves on fostering talent and giving our team members the support and opportunities they need to thrive, and Tobi’s journey is an inspiration. He’s a shining example of growth and dedication within our company.”
