Erin’s career on the buses

A Lanarkshire mechanic has told of the successful start to her career thanks to her enjoyable time on First Bus’s apprenticeship programme.

The travel company is using National Apprenticeship Week 2022 to highlight some local success stories of people who have thrived since getting on board with the firm.

They say everyone who joins the First Bus Engineering Apprenticeship programme is given the opportunity to gain expertise in cutting-edge transport green technology and working on a range of state-of-the-art vehicles as it continues its mission to move towards a zero-emission fleet.

Erin Hind, who completed her four-year apprenticeship in June 2021, now works as a Nightshift Mechanic in the company’s Blantyre depot,

She said:“i started my apprenticeship when I was 16 and it was great. You got to learn alongside some great people and earned a living at the same time.

“Everyone at First Bus is so helpful and they really look after the apprentices.

“The vast majority of people who started their apprenticeship in the same year as me have continued into a full time job which shows just how much we all enjoyed being part of it.

“I own a home, have a good car, I really enjoy my job and the people are great. It gave me a great start to my career.”

In June 2021, First Glasgow’s Caledonia depot received delivery of 22 EV buses as it began its move towards a zero-emission fleet.

It is expected a further 126 buses will be delivered and in service across the remainder of 2022, with the order complete by Spring 2023.

First Bus are promoting a range of apprenticeships to people of all ages.

The company partnered with Reaseheath College in Nantwich to establish the UK’S first bus and coach engineering academy delivering tailored training to First Bus apprentice engineering technicians in the maintenance of next generation, zero-emission transport vehicles.