BUS operator Stagecoach is calling for five enthusiastic women and men to come on board its engineers’ apprenticeship programme, with five full-time roles in the mechanical fitter function on offer.

Stagecoach North East engineers maintain the fleet of buses and positions are available at its depots in Stockton, Newcastle, South Shields and Sunderland.

The four-year programme involves a combination of residential training (at GTG College in Glasgow), undertaking the Technical Certificate in Transport Engineering Maintenance and on the job training at a local depot. During the training years apprentices will benefit from a nominated mentor at the company, who will be available for guidance and assistance.

After training, engineers are awarded an Apprenticeship in Transporting Engineering Maintenance and have the opportunity to become a licensed member of IRTEC (The Institute of Road Transport Engineers).

Apprenticeships can lead to a very rewarding and successful career, as demonstrated recently by Stagecoach North East employee, Lee Mutch. He is now engineering manager at the firm's Hartlepool bus depot, and began as an engineering apprentice 20 years ago at the company’s depot in South Shields. As he progressed from fitter, charge hand and engineering supervisor, he worked at the various depots, and has benefited from the experience, which has now lead him to managerial level.