After studying law at university, Melanie Keylock decided to pursue a career in the coach and bus industry, joining the Stagecoach graduate scheme. Currently in her second year, she tells Beth Hutson about her experience in the industry so far
Q: You studied law at university, so what made you decide to take up a position on the Stagecoach graduate scheme?
A: I started doing law back in 2003. I moved around the country quite a lot and there’s a limit on how much time you can take between starting and finishing a law degree. I had pretty much exceeded the limit, so I started all over again. I started my qualifying law degree in 2009 and graduated in 2013. I had been working in law, specifically in employment law for a number of years by that stage. I was interested in the blend of general management of people and HR management. The graduate scheme is a combination of the two – so that’s why I decided to go away from law and look at alternatives.
Q: What drew you to this particular scheme?
A: It seemed quite structured. It’s a hands-on approach, and you get a lot of on the job support. I’m in my second year now, doing the role of Assistant Operations Manager. The first year is geared towards preparing you for that – you get to spend time in various parts of the business so you understand from the ground up how everybody’s job works. It’s a structured scheme and that lends itself to my structured approach to life generally.
Q: What is the scheme like so far?
A: It’s really good. It’s a whirlwind, which can be quite daunting at times but I’m someone that doesn’t tend to stand still for very long so it’s perfect for me. It is ever changing, which is a constant challenge. It’s hard to pick out a particular aspect of it that is over and above everything else, because I’m constantly learning. There’s always a new experience to have. You’re constantly being driven to succeed and there’s support from everyone in the business.
Q: How are you finding your role as Assistant Operations Manager?
A: It’s very exciting. No two days are the same. I can think that I have a bunch of meetings planned out for any given day, and that can all change at the drop of a hat. You’ve got to be proactive and adaptable. Although I like a structured approach, the biggest thing that I’ve learnt is that that’s not always the best way. It’s been an eye opener for me.
Q: What aspects of your career have you found most challenging?
A: The biggest challenge is settling into a new depot and becoming familiar with the area and the obstacles that face that particular business, within a very short space of time. Each depot and its people face different challenges in terms of the operating environment and there’s a real requirement to get to grips with that as quickly as possible each time you step into a new role. Fortunately I embrace change and am very flexible and adaptable.
Q: Do you think that more could be done to recruit women in the industry?
A: Trying to get more women into the workforce and in this industry in particular is a key focus. It’s something that I’ve been looking at as part of some of my projects. There are projects that go on throughout the UK in Stagecoach that are designed towards trying to encourage more women into the bus industry. The key thing for us is customer service; it’s not just about driving the bus anymore. There’s definitely a drive to get more women into the workplace.
