TWO young people from Teesside are now looking forward to a career in engineering thanks to an apprenticeship scheme operated by local bus company, Stagecoach North East.

The bus operator offers apprenticeship opportunities across the region in mechanical, body repair and electrical engineering and has just taken on two apprentices to train at its depot in Teesside.

Charlie Marshall and Joe Cowell are in the first year of the scheme, gaining hands-on practical training alongside studying at college in Glasgow over six one-week blocks each year.

The four-year programme involves a combination of residential training undertaking the Technical Certificate in Bus and Coach Engineering Maintenance and on the job training at a local depot. Both apprentices will learn all aspects of vehicle maintenance through their workshop experience, preparing vehicles for the road, conducting MOT’s and making repairs. As part of the training programme, every apprentice is guided by a nominated mentor from the company who will provide support and advice throughout the four-year scheme.

16 year-old Charlie from Eaglescliffe, who will be a qualified mechanic at the end of his course, said: “The Stagecoach course is a really good apprentice scheme and the perfect one for me. It is really practical, which is something that I enjoy so it is right up my street. Straight away it has been very ‘hands on’, servicing buses, and as I am the first in my family to study engineering, they are very proud.”

Joe Cowell is 22 and from Linthorpe in Middlesbrough. After studying for a NVQ Level 2 qualification in welding at Middlesbrough College, followed by some time as a welder, Joe is looking forward to adding to his skills and developing his career in engineering.

Gary Chisholm, Engineering Director at Stagecoach North East, said: “We are committed to developing our staff, and offering apprenticeship opportunities is a great way to bring young people into the company and nurture their skills from the outset of their professional career. The four-year course gives all our apprentices the opportunity to train while earning and we find that once qualified our trainees remain with the company for most if not all of their working life.