Greater Manchester’s pioneering Bee Network is creating a new model for driving economic growth and boosting the UK’s homegrown manufacturing industries – including local bus firm Mellor.
Hundreds of brand-new buses are being built at locations across the UK, in turn creating skilled opportunities for young people starting out their career.
One local firm benefitting is Mellor. The Rochdale-based company has built buses that are now in service in the town and is building other buses that will operate in the south of Greater Manchester when buses come back under local control from 5 January.
Mellor is building 28 buses, 21 of which are currently in service and the remaining 7 will operate early next year across the south of Greater Manchester.
On Thursday 17 October, the Mayor of Greater Manchester visited the company to see new buses roll off the production line and meet some of the apprentices whose roles have been created thanks to Bee Network bus orders.
The orders have supported the creation of 15 new apprentice roles. This builds on the hundreds of buses – totalling tens of millions of pounds – delivered and ordered for the Bee Network. This demonstrates how investment in public transport – in this case the Bee Network – can deliver jobs.
The new fleet is serving smaller local estates and communities, with the compact buses specifically designed for narrower roads in more rural and outlying areas. These areas were often not prioritised by operators before franchising, with companies tending to target busier, more profitable routes.
By improving services to areas that were previously overlooked, the new buses play a crucial role in connecting people to local services, work and leisure opportunities.
The apprentices receive on- the- job training, working alongside a highly skilled workforce who often act as mentors, along with a college day release programme to back up what they’re learning. It’s all part of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s vision to transform technical education, with work underway to create clear pathways for young people into diverse, skilled careers offered by creation of the Bee Network MBacc pathway.
John Cliffe, Head of Operations at Mellor said: “We are thrilled to welcome Mayor Andy Burnham to Mellor and couldn’t be prouder to support the Bee Network expansion with our vehicles. These vehicles not only improve access to public transport by offering enhanced operational efficiency through their compact size and low carbon emissions, but they also play a crucial role in connecting communities and reducing social isolation.
“These apprentices are beginning their exciting career journey with us as part of an 18-month program, designed in collaboration with Hopwood Hall College. Throughout the program, they will rotate across various departments, gaining hands-on experience in all areas of the business. This is our first cohort under the new Woodall Nicholson Apprenticeship scheme, which leads to a qualification as a “Vehicle Converter.” We’re extremely proud to have developed this course in partnership with Hopwood Hall College, and we look forward to welcoming many more apprentices in the future.”
