Driving forward: First T Level student completes her journey

This ‘T Levels Thursday’ (12 Feb 2026) during National Apprenticeship Week, First Bus in Greater Manchester is marking a proud milestone as its first T Level student completes her placement, the first of its kind for First Bus.

Amana Mahmood, a student from Hopwood Hall College, has just completed her placement at First Bus’ Rochdale depot, which operates services across Rochdale and Bury, as part of her T Level in Business Management and Administration.

Joining the depot in March 2025, Amana became the first T Level student at First Bus, and the first placement of its kind for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network operators.

T Levels are a new, work-focused qualification designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real life employment. They combine academic study with practical industry experience, and for Amana, that meant completing 315 hours of work experience at First Bus.

The equivalent of around 45 working days, Amana worked alongside depot teams two days a week, contributing to day-to-day operations across the Bee Network in Rochdale and Bury, and community-focused activity.

Her projects included supporting the Rochdale depot first anniversary on the Bee Network, engaging with customers at Rochdale Bus Station, and representing First Bus to encourage other young people to consider careers in public transport.

The placement reflects First Bus’s wider commitment to social value, supporting local communities by creating opportunities for young people, investing in skills and helping build a more inclusive local workforce.

Reflecting on her experience, Amana said: “This placement has given me the opportunity to grow my confidence and see how what we learn in the classroom translates to real life.”

Kevin Mullin, Social Value Manager at First Bus: “T Levels are an innovative qualification. Placements like Amana’s show how local employers like First Bus can play a practical role in preparing young people for work while strengthening links between education and industry. By offering these opportunities we aim to remove barriers to employment and support long-term economic growth across Greater Manchester.”