Member Article

Second Year Success For Jordan At National Apprenticeship Awards

An engineering student from Sunderland has built on his success after winning a top award at the 14th annual Stagecoach UK Bus Apprentice of the Year Awards.

26-year-old Jordan Davison from Southwick, an apprentice with Stagecoach North East, was recognised for his hard work and engineering skills after winning the Apprentice of the Year Award (Year 2), beating his own position last year in which he came second.

The talented young engineer, who works at the local bus operator’s South Shields depot, was once again acknowledged for his talent at an awards ceremony at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Jordan was rewarded for his efforts after receiving high scores for punctuality, attendance, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, ability and overall performance following the submission of a report by the depot management team and his college in Glasgow where he studies for 10 weeks each year.

Now starting the third year of a four-year apprenticeship, Jordan received a cheque for £500 for the top accolade, beating apprentices from all around the country. As part of the award, Jordan was also presented with a two-day trip to the Scania factory and training facility in Stockholm, as well as the opportunity to drive the company’s test circuit in Sweden.

Jordan said: “To win the apprentice of the year was a total surprise, as all the apprentices get suited up to go to the ceremony and we don’t know who is shortlisted or who will win.

“In my first year I came second so I didn’t really expect this result at all and I’m so happy. Winning the trip to Sweden was just amazing and I can’t wait. I have been to Sweden before for holidays, as I have friends over there who play in festivals, so I know it is a great place. I have heard from other apprentices that the factory visit is amazing so I’m really excited.

“The apprenticeship is going really well and flying over so far. I am now entrusted with bigger jobs and don’t need to be observed as much, with tasks such as removing gearboxes, and stripping engines down, so it is much more challenging and I’m always learning through the excellent team support.”

Jordan also received an award and prize for Best Depot Vote, receiving a toolkit to add to his expanding toolbox from the various award sponsors.

Stagecoach North East also added to its engineering awards collection after scooping three more awards at the national ceremony in Manchester.

Jonathan Rowland, 23 from Peterlee, a final year apprentice at the Sunderland depot, won the award for Best Peer Vote (Year 3) after being chosen when all the apprentices in his class voted who they felt best deserved to win.

22-year-old second year apprentice Kieran Wilson from Whiteleas, who works at the depot in South Shields, won Best Year End of Block Tests (Year 1), which are taken from the results of each test sat at the end of every college block.

Final year apprentice Thomas Shannon from Wallsend, 20, also won Best End of Year Block Tests (Year 3) for his engineering skills at the Walkergate depot in Newcastle.

Gary Chisholm, Engineering Director for Stagecoach North East, said: “Jordan, Jonathan, Kieran and Thomas are fantastic success stories and great advocates for our apprenticeship programme. They have worked extremely hard and now been rewarded for their efforts nationally, having taken every opportunity offered to them. “They are a credit to Stagecoach and thoroughly deserving of these awards. They have excelled themselves and set exceptionally high standards over the past 12 months. They now have a great career ahead of them and we’re proud that they are part of the Stagecoach family and deserve every success.” Clare Willis, Deputy Stagecoach UK Bus Training and Development Manager (Engineering), said: “I’d like to congratulate our winners this year who have all worked extremely hard and delivered an exceptionally high standard. There is tough competition as the quality among our apprentices is so high, so the winners thoroughly deserve their awards.

“The Stagecoach apprentice scheme is industry-leading and has created career opportunities for thousands of people over the years. It is crucial to the future success of our business and we are delighted to have such skilled and committed people in our team, playing a vital role in the delivery of high-quality services for the many people who travel on our buses every day.”

Stagecoach has invested millions of pounds in its UK Bus apprenticeship programme which has benefitted hundreds of apprentices. The company currently employs 195 apprentices across its UK Bus operations.

The company runs a four-year programme in mechanical / electrical (mechelec) engineering or body work engineering. On successful completion of year three, the apprentice currently receives a Modern Apprenticeship (Scotland) or an Advanced Apprenticeship (England and Wales) in Bus and Coach Engineering Maintenance, which is graded as a S/NVQ level 3. On successful completion of the fourth year ‘Apprentice Plus Programme’ the apprentice is accredited with certification by the Institute of the Motor Industry and membership of the Society of Operations Engineers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kathryn Clapham .