Interserve Group Limited wins #apprenticeship contract with London bus company Abellio

Interserve Group Limited, the international support services, construction and equipment services group, has won a c.£900k contract with the major bus company Abellio, which will see up to 160 apprentices a year enrolling on a Passenger Transport Bus Driver Level 2 apprenticeship.

Interserve Learning & Employment (ILE), which forms part of Interserve, will deliver a Passenger Transport Bus Driver Level 2 apprenticeship in partnership with Abellio which will give new employees the training and support they need to become a fully-qualified, confident and safe bus driver.

London bus company Abellio has more than 2,500 employees and runs more than 750 buses on its contracts across the city. The apprenticeships will start in September and from that month, any new driver joining Abellio who hasn’t already got their Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence will be automatically enrolled onto the scheme. A driver recruitment campaign has already started.

ILE was the country’s first large training provider to launch a bespoke apprenticeship for bus drivers, and already works with other passenger transport bus operators. This means ILE has built a wealth of experience in the sector. The apprenticeship sits within the Apprenticeship Levy framework and combines practical training with off-the-job learning which complements Abellio’s commitment to quality driving, exceptional customer service and safety. The apprenticeship will also reflect the high standards set by Transport for London.

Tony Wilson, Managing Director at Abellio, said:

“The Passenger Transport Apprenticeship offers an outstanding opportunity to provide a fully rounded training environment that gives individuals new to the industry the best possible start to their career. Through a far wider and more extensive programme than has traditionally been made available, we will ensure that graduates of the course become confident and safe bus drivers who are also equipped with excellent customer service skills.”

Greg Scott, Managing Director at ILE, said:

“Abellio has made a considerable investment in bringing their bus driver training scheme in-house so I am absolutely delighted that as part of this approach they have decided to partner with ILE. I believe this is because we are known to provide the best-in-class apprenticeships and have a proven track record in this sector.

“Growing our business with Abellio meets our strategic objective of winning new business in the passenger transport industry.”

About Interserve Group Limited: One of the world’s foremost support services and construction companies. Everything we do is shaped by our core values. We are a leader in innovative and sustainable outcomes for our clients and a great place to work for our people. We offer advice, design, construction, equipment, facilities management and frontline public services. We are headquartered in the UK and have consolidated revenues of £2.9bn and a workforce of circa 68,000 people worldwide.

About Abellio London Bus: Operating across London on behalf of Transport for London, operating over eight per cent of London 700 buses and employing 2,500 staff across 6 depots in Central, South and West London. The business aims to offer a customer focused, innovative view to operating buses, running an environmentally friendly fleet. They are part of the Abellio group and believe that public transport is a vital part of community life and aim to offer easier journeys, every day, through providing a professional and quality service.