Mayor Andy Burnham visits Mellor

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has visited Rochdale-based Mellor.

The manufacturer has been building 28 buses for Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network, 21 of which are already in service and the remaining seven set to operate early next year. They are being used to serve smaller local estates and communities, with the compact buses specifically designed for narrower roads in more rural and outlying areas.

The orders have supported the creation of 15 new apprentice roles. The apprentices receive on-the-job training, working alongside a highly skilled workforce who often act as mentors, along with a college day release programme. According to Transport for Greater Manchester, this is all part of the Mayor’s vision to transform technical education, with work underway to create clear pathways for young people into diverse, skilled careers offered by creation of the Bee Network MBacc pathway.

“These vehicles not only improve access to public transport by offering enhanced operational efficiency through their compact size and low carbon emissions, but they also play a crucial role in connecting communities and reducing social isolation” – John Cliffe, Head of Operations at Mellor

John Cliffe, Head of Operations at Mellor, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mayor Andy Burnham to Mellor and couldn’t be prouder to support the Bee Network expansion with our vehicles. These vehicles not only improve access to public transport by offering enhanced operational efficiency through their compact size and low carbon emissions, but they also play a crucial role in connecting communities and reducing social isolation.

“These apprentices are beginning their exciting career journey with us as part of an 18-month program, designed in collaboration with Hopwood Hall College. Throughout the program, they will rotate across various departments, gaining hands-on experience in all areas of the business. This is our first cohort under the new Woodall Nicholson Apprenticeship scheme, which leads to a qualification as a ‘Vehicle Converter’. We’re extremely proud to have developed this course in partnership with Hopwood Hall College, and we look forward to welcoming many more apprentices in the future.”

“I was particularly pleased to meet the young apprentices with bright futures ahead of them” – Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Greater Manchester is proving the case for change when it comes to public transport.

“As the first area to re-take control of our buses in almost 40 years, we are keeping fares down, improving the reliability and standard of buses and getting more people back onboard through the Bee Network.

“We are also proving how investment in public transport supports economic growth, not just in Greater Manchester but across the UK, with franchise contracts and bus orders helping to secure jobs and deliver new ones – like those at Mellor in Rochdale.

“I was particularly pleased to meet the young apprentices with bright futures ahead of them and who are benefitting thanks to the Bee Network, and as we develop our plans to transform technical education through the MBacc, we want to encourage even more young people into the industry.”

As well as Mellor, Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus are also building buses for the Bee Network.