First Bus welcomes new wave of engineering apprentices to industry-leading facility at Reaseheath College

First Bus recently welcomed its latest cohort of engineering apprentices to its training academy at Reaseheath College in Cheshire – the UK’s first dedicated bus and coach engineering facility.  

The new wave of apprentices kick-started their induction with a team-building activity and talk from First Bus’ Director of Engineering Excellence, Chris Remnant – followed by a tour of the training academy. 

Of the 36 new apprentices joining the programme, all English-based students will complete their apprenticeship at Reaseheath in Nantwich. Four Scottish students will complete their studies closer to home at GTG College in Glasgow. 

First Bus opened its bespoke engineering apprentice academy in partnership with Reaseheath College in October 2021, allowing hundreds of career starters and career changers to forge a new path within the transport industry.  

The training facility offers a unique depot-style environment to help apprentices transition seamlessly between college and the workplace. By working with replica equipment at college, apprentices can put the skills they learn straight into practice at the depot – progressing their development into First Bus’ engineers of the future.  

Many fully qualified apprentices are now working as full-time engineers at First Bus, helping to keep its buses on the road. 

A key component of the apprenticeship is the inclusion of hybrid vehicles, providing apprentices with the skills to progress their careers whilst enabling First Bus to future-proof its business.  

The apprenticeship also enables students to earn while they learn and offers a generous accommodation package for when students are on block. 

Chris Remnant, Director of Engineering Excellence at First Bus, said: “If you want to be an Apprentice Engineer within the bus industry, First Bus is the place to be. Our apprentices begin their careers in an environment where they can flourish and learn. The sky really is the limit and there are lots of exciting opportunities within First Bus. Some might choose to move into management and some will become specialists. The academy is industry-leading and the partnership we have with Reaseheath College is second to none.” 

Marcus Clinton, Principal and CEO at Reaseheath College, said: “First Bus really work in the right way. They believe in partnership and that apprentices should have the very best experience and the very best leading-edge equipment. Together, we want to develop people so they’re industry-focused, career-ready and are going to thrive in the workplace.” 

First Bus has recently become a real Living Wage employer. As part of this commitment, it has pledged to raise apprentice wages to the real Living Wage level, a voluntary rate of pay commitment that is over and above the UK Government’s National Living Wage standard, by October 2025.  

ENDS