Reading ‘grows its own’ skills

With skilled engineers in short supply, Reading Buses has taken the decision to continue to ‘grow their own’. The operator has increased its Guided Apprenticeship Scheme to four, adding another two apprentices: Toby Driver and Ryan Hunt. Toby will increase the company’s electrical capability, while Ryan will follow a different apprenticeship path.

Chief Engineer, John Bickerton, explained, ‘Ryan will be working mainly in our stores and supply department as a trainee parts person. He will be studying an NVQ in Business Administration rather than the traditional mechanical engineering. With skilled engineers in short supply, we have a very healthy apprenticeship programme which is all about growing the skills internally. Our policy is to grow the right skills and the right approach that we want at Reading Buses. I am choosing to tailor the apprenticeships to fill gaps in our own skills which I can see coming up in the next five years. Toby and Ryan fit that very well.’