Stagecoach maintains 5% Club gold membership for second year

Stagecoach has maintained its gold membership of the 5% Club for 2023/24. The club is a UK-wide movement of employers that are committed to taking positive action for increased, inclusive and accessible workplace training for all.

The operator first gained gold membership of the scheme last year. Over 900 businesses are represented within the 5% Club. It utilises an employer audit to validate activities, explore future plans and commitments, and examine the approaches to quality, social mobility, diversity, and inclusion.

120 employers have gold membership of the 5% Club. Stagecoach says that its presence among them recognises the group’s “continued significant contribution to the development of employees through ‘earn and learn’ schemes such as apprenticeships and graduate schemes.”

The group adds that it is driving forward several initiatives to build an inclusive workplace that represents customers and communities. In 2021, its Sustainability Strategy detailed an objective of having 40% of leadership roles filled by women by 2026 and for 25% of its workforce to be from ethnic minorities. It will also offer more work placements for 16-24-year-olds.

Chief Executive Officer Claire Miles has welcomed Stagecoach continuing its gold membership of the 5% Club. She says: “Developing this pipeline of talented individuals brings huge value to our business in terms of talent and diversity.

“‘Earn and learn’ positions have been invaluable in helping us to engage with local communities to ensure that those we serve are represented in our workforce and are equipped with the best tools to achieve.

“We look forward to further expanding the opportunities available to our employees and those looking to join Stagecoach to help us achieve our ambitions for the future.”

Initiatives already offered by Stagecoach are is recently-relaunched graduate scheme, along with its driver and engineer apprenticeship programmes. It also operates a ‘trade up’ policy of giving existing employees the opportunity to undertake an engineering apprenticeship, something that the group says it hopes to develop further.