(04 Apr 2018, 12:16 pm)Chris 1 wrote Do you know what the difference is between a trainee driver, and an an apprentice driver?  Does this mean there is no longer a bond for the driver?

On the face of it, it appears to be a good thing.  I'm just not sure if I'm being unduly cynical in wondering if this is just a way for Stagecoach to get someone else to pay their training costs?

Interestingly there are now similar schemes in the haulage industry.

There have been incentive schemes in the haulage industry for a good few years, even before the latest apprenticeship revision.
One particular scheme targeting under 21 year olds was rolled out about 15 years ago, but seemed to fizzle out.

With the new Apprenticeship scheme for bus/coach/train drivers (it's the same, just with specialist elements for each sector - such as loading vehicle, delivering customer service etc), all employers who pay more than £3m in wages, must contribute to a levy.
They can claim moneys back, if they have staff who undertake an Apprenticeship programme.

So in Stagecoach's example, they pay the levy, recruit drivers under this programme, train them, put them through the qualification side of things and pay them a wage.
How they or others then manage any loyalty or penalise leavers, is up to them.
I can't comment on how Stagecoach are managing their process or measures being put in to place to manage loyalty.

I suppose the difference between the current and new scheme, is the requirement to do a formal qualification within the initial period of employment.
Appreciate things differ between groups, but it could be CPC, driver training and then an NVQ at some point further down the line.

edit: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk...d_Rail.pdf
Qualification element that needs to be completed.