Stagecoach is relaunching its Graduate Leadership Programme after four years with nine graduates joining its operating companies around the UK as part of the two-year programme.
The business’s operations in Manchester, South Wales, Yorkshire, Merseyside & South Lancashire, South, London, South East and West have taken on the inductees, who will be trained in skills in stakeholder management, commercial innovations, people leadership, operational performance and change management. They will be assisted by both a “buddy” and a “mentor” within the company.
Stagecoach, which employs 24,000 people nationally, has stressed the group has a 44% gender split, that 33% are from ethnic background and that 44% qualify as socially mobile.
Ray O’Toole, Stagecoach Executive Chairman, says: “We are delighted to welcome these new graduates into our teams and know they will have a fulfilling time throughout the two-year programme.
“Our graduates will be based across the UK, developing their expertise with multiple stakeholders which will build their skills and knowledge for becoming our future leaders within the transport industry.
“Having paused our graduate recruitment during the pandemic, it is a really exciting time to be welcoming a new group and generation of enthusiastic individuals into the sector, who I’m sure will go on to achieve great things here.”
Stagecoach notes it is one of 107 UK businesses to be a Gold Member of The 5% Club, which recognises employers for commitment to “earn and learn” as part of developing the workforce.
Among former participants of the scheme are Matthew Cranwell, who went on to become Managing Director for Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire and Stagecoach East Midlands and Zach McAskill, who progressed to become Operations Manager for Stagecoach Manchester.