The country's biggest bus and coach operator has launched the search for new graduates to join its UK-wide business from September.

Stagecoach is looking for people to join its two-year extensive graduate training programme. Successful applicants will have an opportunity to learn the bus and coach business inside out, with time spent in operations, engineering, the people team, finance, marketing and commercial departments at a range of locations from Inverness to Exeter.

Successful graduates can expect to develop skills in stakeholder management, commercial innovation, people leadership, operational performance and change management.

This year, Stagecoach has also launched an engineering graduate scheme, designed specifically for graduates from an engineering background looking to progress into a leadership role. Successful candidates can expect the same opportunities to develop integral leadership skills, while also getting industry leading engineering experience.

Izzy Bullough, a graduate on the 2023 programme, said: "I have been on the Future Leader Programme for five months and have already achieved so much. From obtaining a Category D driving license to working as a traffic officer, this programme has given me exposure to all aspects of the business, while also providing all the support for me to grow and develop."

Many of Stagecoach's senior leadership team started their careers on the graduate scheme, learning about how the business is run and working their way through the ranks to become managing directors.

Joining the graduate scheme in 2004, Matthew Cranwell was promoted to several senior positions before becoming managing director for Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire. More recently, he has taken on the role of managing director for Stagecoach East Midlands, which runs 460 buses across Lincoln, Hull, Grimsby, Skegness, Worksop, Mansfield, Gainsborough and Scunthorpe and employs 1,300 people across eight depots.

Matthew Cranwell, managing director of Stagecoach East Midlands, said: "This is an excellent programme that really provides you with the knowledge of how our business works. It's a great opportunity to have a go at all the jobs and get insight into what our staff have to do on a daily basis to keep over 8,300 buses, coaches and trams running reliably for our customers."

The next Stagecoach Graduate Leadership Programme starts in September 2024, and applications must be submitted March 8, 2024.

The minimum requirements to apply are a 2:2 degree or above in any discipline by September 2023, a full UK/ EU driving licence by September 2023 and a good level of personal resilience and zest for learning.

Find out more on the Stagecoach website.