Lothian Buses apprentice engineers will put their skills to use in the Powering Futures Challenge Programme, with the operator’s management set to implement the solutions they put forward.
Eight of the young workforce will take part in the challenge, which is a skills development programme focused on sustainability and future business prosperity.
The challenge for the octet will be reducing the use of energy, particularly gas, across the Lothian Buses estate.
Their work is set to benefit the operator’s sustainability goals, thanks to the commitment from bosses.
Colin Barnes, Director of Engineering at Lothian Buses, says: “As the main bus operator in Edinburgh, we are fully committed to ensuring we play our part in reducing emissions across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including within our premises and plan to become fully net zero by 2035.
“We are excited to be working with Powering Futures to encourage and empower our young workforce to come up with the solutions to the challenge of energy use.
“Our younger colleagues will look at these issues in a different way to those who have been in the business for a long time, and we are confident that their suggestions will inspire a step-change in how this sustainability challenge is approached. Nothing is off limits.”
Powering Futures was set up in 2020 and the challenge involves youngsters aged 18-25 solving a sustainability problem set by industry or their employer.
Ben Macpherson, MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, helped to launch this year’s challenge this week.
He says: “It’s great that Powering Futures and Lothian Buses are working together to help empower the young workforce.
“The Challenging Programme will equip participants with key skills for their career, and also bring forward innovative, new ideas for how Lothian Buses can continue to lead in decarbonising the transport sector.”
