Trent Barton

The College enjoys a strong relationship with Trent Barton, one of the major bus operators in the East Midlands. Trent Barton have been a strong supporter of our work experience scheme for several years now and the 2018/19 academic year has continued this theme, with Trent Barton placing several of our automotive students.

The company operate a fleet of modern low-floor vehicles and as of June 2017, the fleet consisted of 256 buses and 13 coaches. Trent Barton operates out of depots in Derby, Langley Mill, Nottingham and Sutton in Ashfield with outstations in Ashbourne, Belper, Matlock and Uttoxeter.

Euan Ketteringham, aged 19, is studying for his Level 2 Certificate in Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair Principles at our London Road campus, and recently completed a week’s placement at the Nottingham depot, on Manvers Street in the city centre. 

Euan has been pleased to learn that Trent Barton have invited him to apply for their apprenticeship scheme and extended the offer of part time work over the summer. Harold Rose, Area Engineering Manager, said, ​“The students that we have had have enjoyed themselves and they have been very surprised in the day to day operations of maintaining a fleet of buses daily, along with the amount of work and planning that goes into it.”

​“All students that have spent time with us at our Nottingham depo have contributed to our business operations and from an employer perspective, we feel these placements helped with our social and corporate responsibilities. There’s no doubt that I learned a lot myself, with new
possible candidates for engineering in the future. “

“It has certainly improved our understanding of how to introduce 16 to 18 year olds into the workplace and our experience of working with the College has been trouble free, with no issues at all. We always find ease in contacting the college should we need assistance.”

“All students have been made very welcome and have fully understood the health and safety rules within in the workshop. All students that have spent time with us have shown interest, which is refreshing to see. We would most certainly be interested in working with Nottingham
College again in future.”

Carl Yeaman, Director of Engineering, added, ​“I believe this to be a very effective and useful way for Trent Barton to participate and demonstrate our social and corporate responsibilities and one we will continue to use and develop with the educational system. If we can continue to engage with the younger generation and demonstrate to them this is their local bus company and service we hope this will hit a cord and either encourage them to value the service or want
to work for us.”

​“These placements have helped us to build a structure and a process within Trent Barton, where we can engage with the younger generation offer a working environment and look to help the recruitment of people that fit the job.”

Plans to continue and expand the work experience program with Trent Barton into the 2019/20 academic year are already in motion, as Carl explains, ​“We would like to be able to visit your facilities to understand where the students are coming from and the path they are on.” 

“We like to view [the college] as a partner with us. If possible I would welcome any mentor training you could offer for some of our engineers, so that we can improve on the experience given, but also develop our own staff.”

“The contact I have had with the College’s work experience team has been succinct and effective. The reports I have received from our engineering managers on the students who attended our workshops has been very positive, in the way that they actually showed more
promise than some of our current apprentices.