Meet Our People

Joined: 2005
My story: I joined Stagecoach as a graduate trainee. Stagecoach stood out for me. I wanted a clear career path and choices across a wide range of roles. Stagecoach offered this variety, coupled with the certainty of well thought through support structures. It also offered a role that wasn’t desk-bound around a 9 to 5 office job. Although I’m working for a multi-national company, I feel like part of a big family. What I love is the buzz and energy around the business. Responsibility comes early on, and you have a safety net of managers around you. I am now responsible for over 300 drivers. It’s a role where you really have to get “stuck in”. I won “Young Manager of the Year” at the UK Bus awards. It was totally unexpected as my boss entered me for it, and it’s nice to get a bit of extra recognition for what you do.

Joined: 2002
My story: "I think the speed of my career development at Stagecoach proves just how excellent their graduate scheme is. After completing the two-year scheme, I was appointed Operations Manager of one of our depots in Manchester. The scheme gave me such a good business grounding that I was able to make a big impression very quickly, which led to my promotion to Operations Director of Stagecoach West Scotland. Once you reach management level, it's a case of ‘the more you put in the more you get out’. Stagecoach is an ideas business. And, because there's no complex hierarchy, the flat structure leaves room for your ideas to be heard.

I'd say that the people skills you develop on the scheme are hugely important. In Manchester I had 396 drivers to manage, but I still tried to get to know every person by name. It felt like one big family. But you need to balance approachability with assertiveness, and the scheme teaches you to lead by example and earn the respect of the people around you.

I’ve been an Operations Director since 2005 - four years in West Scotland and, since the summer of 2010, in East Scotland. In my current role I’m responsible for all operational, commercial and marketing aspects of our business, and accountable for budget control. The job is always throwing up new challenges and no two days are ever the same! They vary from visiting depots and discussing our services and general performance, to meeting with external stakeholders to discuss future opportunities. I liaise regularly with a number of local authorities and sit on the Scottish Bus Council for the Confederation of Passenger Transport.

Looking back on my time on the graduate scheme, the things that really stood out were the training and the support we received. Most of all, the scheme gives you the confidence to make the most of your natural abilities. There are enormous opportunities for people with skills, knowledge and self-belief. The scheme equips you with all of them, so I expect there will be plenty more Stagecoach graduates reaching Director level soon.”

Joined: 2009
My story: I can’t say enough about the training. It’s so comprehensive Stagecoach has delivered on what it promised. If I had to describe Stagecoach in three words I’d say they’re proactive, modern and forward-looking – and they’re also very much at the forefront of technology. I spent the first few months with Stagecoach as a graduate trainee on the shop floor alongside fitting staff getting my hands dirty. I then had lots of training in HR and management, as well as spells in operations and with the commercial team. It’s a hugely enjoyable role. It can be hectic at times so you need to be able to keep calm under pressure. You also need solid engineering skills, but equally important is business acumen and an aptitude for management. But as long as you’ve got the motivation, Stagecoach will bring all those skills out in you.

Joined: 1990
My story: I joined the company 20 years ago as an on train stewardess. Since then, I’ve worked in various roles and I’ve been given some fantastic opportunities to progress in my career. Since we became part of Stagecoach Group in 2007, I’ve seen some great improvements. There are more opportunities to develop and I joined the management team of East Midlands Trains in November 2010 as a Train Service Manager helping to manage the on-train team at Derby. This is a challenging role involving safety, performance, recruitment and employment law, just to name a few areas. Communication with our teams is really important and we travel regularly on our trains to monitor and improve our service. The most important thing for me after all these years is the company’s values and behaviours. Each employee is treated as an individual with respect for each other regardless of their position in the company or the experience they have. It really is a great company to work for!

Joined: 2004
My story: I started as an apprentice in electro-mechanical engineering, which involved train servicing and heavy maintenance of the High Speed Trains. At the end of my four-year apprenticeship, I became a senior team member on the shop floor of the depot. Using the experience and qualifications gained in my time with the company, I successfully applied to be a Service Driver at Neville Hill Depot in Leeds. I’ve now completed my training, so I’m a fully fledged driver helping to move passenger trains around the depot. I’ve been lucky to gain experience of many different working environments, and have been given the opportunity to travel across the network and see how different departments work. There are always changes along the way, but we have a close-knit team that can work through many technical challenges. One of the most enjoyable bits is the sheer unpredictability of the job and quick-thinking and problem solving is a definite must!

Joined: 2001
My story: The support and feedback I have received from my manager since joining the company as a train driver has been excellent, particularly the ‘Time With Your Manager’ initiative that means I get one-to-one quality time twice a year. From the beginning, it was clear that the company values and supports its people and their development. Thanks to regular internal vacancy lists, I became aware of the opportunity to become a Driver Manager. Being able to mentor and help new drivers from the time they first start their practical work through to passing out as a fully fledged driver is really rewarding. I particularly value providing support to other drivers at regular best practice sessions, or when I join them in the cab.

Joined: 2001
My story: South West Trains is the largest train company in the UK and there are lots of opportunities for career development. I joined in 2001 as a train driver. I’ve been a Driver Manager at Bournemouth / Weymouth since 2010 after a secondment at Wimbledon Park depot. I have found the training courses required for the role of Driver Manager very interesting and invaluable in developing the skills I need for my role on a day-to-day basis. There is a very strong team spirit and colleagues are always willing to help when needed. I really enjoy my role as a Driver Manager and the variety of situations I face every day. There is always something new to learn.

Joined: September 2010
My story:“After university I got a temporary job with PSV Claims, Stagecoach’s insurance company. Then someone asked if I’d considered their graduate scheme and I must confess, I didn’t even know they had one. So I researched it and it sounded great, very different to other schemes I’d looked at. I knew I wanted to work with people, not computers and figures, and liked the idea of gaining real management experience quickly. The likelihood of a proper job at the end was a big incentive too!

Because I’m from Perth in Scotland, where Stagecoach’s head office is, I knew that their operations extended UK-wide and overseas, and that they also ran trains. But I didn’t know just how many depots and sub-companies there were! There’s much more to Stagecoach than sending buses and drivers out on the road.

In my first year I had a go at just about everything that goes on in a depot - from fuelling and steam-cleaning buses to sitting in on local authority meetings. I was encouraged to get hands-on - it’s the best way to learn how the company operates.

In my second year I was made Assistant Operations Manager of our Stockport depot, basically helping run the day-to-day stuff - and there’s lots of it! There’s no such thing as ‘a typical day’. Every depot’s different, so the detail of what I do may not be what Assistant Operations Managers in other depots do. One thing’s for sure though – things change at a moment’s notice so you have to think on your feet.

I’m rapidly gaining the experience to soon be able to run my own depot. After that, who knows? I want to go a long way with Stagecoach, and am confident they’ll provide the means for me to do so. It’s a steep learning curve, but the scheme’s expertly tailored to guide me through in a way that feels natural. Everyone knows what I’m here to do and my mentor and managers, as well as everyone else in the depot, are very supportive.

If you want my advice, go for it - unless you’re looking for a cosy nine-to-five office job. If you want to be constantly pushed and challenged, this scheme could be right up your street.”

Joined: September 2010
My story:“I’d always seen Stagecoach as a large public transport operator that was fairly set in its ways. I didn’t think they took on graduates to become their managers and directors of the future. But whilst the bus industry generally might have a staid image, managing a £multi-million bus depot business is clearly a significant responsibility, and certainly at Stagecoach they embrace progressive ideas that target growth in revenue, passenger numbers and cost control. It’s much more dynamic than I’d originally thought.

Four things stood out for me about the graduate scheme - the variety, the opportunity for early responsibility, the exposure to industry leaders from day one, and the chance to move from one location to another and gain many different experiences. I liked what I read on their website. The training was clearly defined and the idea of working in busy and unpredictable environments really appealed to me.

In my first year I was immersed in the business from top to bottom - one day spent working under buses, the next meeting with the board of directors of the local operating company. It really was that varied. I learnt to drive a bus in service, met customers and got to grips with depot control and its managerial functions. This hands-on experience, combined with various training courses throughout the year, gave me a solid start.

In my second year I was made Assistant Operations Manager at our Stockton depot. This means I share responsibility for managing 156 drivers and 80 vehicles. I recruit and develop staff, and focus on high standards of service delivery. A lot of my time is spent responding to customer feedback, and managing drivers and control office staff. I also attend meetings with local stakeholders and local authority partners.

One day I want to be a director of Stagecoach, but in the meantime I’m all about improving service delivery in my area. My mentor is always here for me – we meet regularly to discuss progress and any concerns I may have. Certainly the culture here encourages you to voice your opinions - and one of my opinions is that the Stagecoach graduate scheme is great if you thrive on early responsibility, variety and challenge.”