Ammar is on the route to success with Stagecoach

Ammar Zia secured a four year apprenticeship with Stagecoach thanks to work experience secured through The Manchester College Employability Team.

Following a week’s work placement at Stagecoach’s Hyde Road depot, Ammar secured a four year apprenticeship with the bus operator, fulfilling his lifelong dream to work for the company.

Ammar, who finished his Level 3 Engineering studies in July 2018, said:

My attendance wasn’t great during the first year of my course but during the second and final year of my course I turned myself around. I spoke to my tutor Karen and told her I wanted to do an apprenticeship at Stagecoach. She fully supported me and I knew what I had to do.

It was during his second year of study that Ammar was offered the chance to complete a week long Stagecoach work placement, organised by the College’s Employability Team. This reinforced Ammar’s career ambitions and he applied for a Stagecoach apprenticeship after finishing his studies.

After successfully completing several tests and an interview, Ammar was offered the four year apprenticeship at the Sharston Depot, which started in September 2018 and will include working on Stagecoach’s vehicle fleet.

Ammar said:

I loved my work experience, and taking on the apprenticeship was the best move I made. It’s a great place to work with a good working environment.

Mark Povall, Stagecoach Fleet Engineer, said: “Having Ammar with us has been really good. He has done everything he has been asked to do, and is great at knuckling down.”

Hilary Orr, Employer Engagement Lead at The Manchester College, said: “This is a great example of how work experience can lead to employment, giving the learner a necessary insight into their desired career field. Partnerships like this with Stagecoach are important to ensure learners have a variety of work experience opportunities” 

Picture shows Ammar with Mark Povall, Stagecoach Fleet Engineer.

Find out more about our range of Construction and Engineering courses at The Manchester College.