New bus ticket discount for apprentices launched for National Apprenticeship Week
Apprentices can now get at least 25% student discount off many bus tickets across the entire Brighton & Hove and Metrobus network, as part of National Apprenticeship Week.
Tom Bald is doing a two-year Business Administration Apprenticeship at Brighton & Hove City Council.
Tom has a degree but felt he needed practical office experience to back him up in his search for work. Since starting his apprenticeship, he has gained valuable skills in customer service, IT systems, data protection and administration.
“It’s really good to get a foundation for employment,” said Tom. “It’s a safe environment to learn with someone next to you. Being able to learn how to do a role just gives you confidence to carry out what you need to do and to make mistakes.
“It really helps when there’s some sort of discount so that when you’re learning to become a full-time employee and being paid less it's reflected in transport.”
Luke Sullivan is an apprentice at the Council’s Hollingdean Depot, dealing with environmental issues like flytipping, commercial waste and litter fines.
“Employers are looking for experience more and more these days, rather than qualifications. With this, I’m getting qualifications, earning money and getting experience without having to pay off a student loan,” Luke said.
“You get an idea of what it’s like to work in an office job day to day and people are really understanding if you make mistakes.”
He said discounted travel was particularly good for young people, whose budgets were already stretched.
Mary Kuchina is an apprentice with Lextons estate agents in Hove and catches the bus multiple times a day for work, as well as for making regular visits to the gym at the Marina.
“Sometimes I take four or five buses a day so the discount will help a lot,” Mary said.
Brighton & Hove and Metrobus’ Commercial Director Nick Hill said: “We’ve listened to our customers and we’ve introduced a new discount for apprentices. We’re pleased we can support apprentices while they're learning on the job and studying.
“Apprentices are a key part of our own business – we have four engineering apprentices in our depots – and they deserve the same discount we give to students.”
To get the discount, apprentices should take their enrolment or confirmation letter, or student ID card into one of our travel shops at Conway Street, Hove; 1 Stop Travel in North Street; Crawley; Gatwick or Redhill, where they'll be issued with a student key card.
More information here.
Apprenticeships should be registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers. Check this here.