Go North East (www.gonortheast.co.uk), the region’s largest bus company, has welcomed four new people to its engineering team after they completed a four-year apprenticeship programme, with the baton being passed to another four young people.

Ross Dryden, Andrew Wrightson, Richard Whittaker and Jonathon Dodds have now officially become fully fledged team members at three of the bus operator’s eight depots in the region.

Go North East’s bus and coach mechanical-engineering apprenticeship — run in partnership with Gateshead College —
receives over 500 applications each year.

Almost 90% of the company’s engineering workforce started their careers as apprentices, and there are currently 31 apprentices studying at various levels of training.

Colin Barnes, head of engineering, said: “Go North East recognises apprenticeships as an important recruitment tool, which helps to address the skills gap in the bus and coach industry and across our region, while giving young people the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.”