Journeys made under the Stagecoach Back on Board national job seekers discount travel initiative are up 115% since May, the operator has revealed. Job applications made with Stagecoach are also up 8.5%.
The Back on Board initiative, launched in 2013 and promoted closely with the Department of Work and Pensions, offers holders of a Jobcentre Plus travel card a 50% discount on Stagecoach bus travel when travelling to job interviews or to find employment.
Latest figures from the operator show trips made under the scheme are running at just under 1,000 every four weeks. That’s up from around 460 every four weeks in May.
The data coincides with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in England, Scotland and Wales since May, and a growth in the UK job market as key sectors reopen. Office of National Statistics data recently revealed that job vacancies had broken records with 1,034,000 in June to August, 249,000 over the pre-pandemic January to March level.
Stagecoach says it is now receiving more than 120 job applications a day – up 8.5% on pre-pandemic levels in 2019 – and is recruiting for 300 roles within the organisation.
“In recent months we’ve seen a clear step-change in journeys by job seekers as the country looks to recover from the pandemic,” says Stagecoach UK Managing Director Carla Stockton-Jones. “Our data also shows a big jump in demand for a range of roles in the bus sector, which has a bright future ahead with the urgent need to decarbonise the country and meet the challenge of climate change.
“We’re proud to be playing our part in helping connect people sustainably with jobs to keep the UK economy running and help deliver a green recovery.”
