HELEN:

Helen Hines

Degree: MA Hons in Business Management, University of Glasgow
Joined Stagecoach: 2006
Current position: Assistant Operations Manager, Manchester

"I looked at a number of graduate schemes, both in and outside the transport industry. Stagecoach appealed because it offered a variety of experience rather than straight theoretical training.

I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I was surprised and impressed by the complexities of running a multi-million pound passenger transport company. Every aspect of the day-to-day functioning of the business has to be incredibly precise to support the smooth running of the service - it really is a challenge.

The programme is largely based on the practical, which means you can’t just sit on the sidelines and take it all in. You get involved in almost everything - it was amazing to drive a bus! Being so close to the business means that you learn a lot, quickly. You also get to draw on the expertise of colleagues from a wide variety of backgrounds. This is really important in developing a well-rounded knowledge of the business and a better-informed management perspective.

You have a mentor, someone senior in the business. You can ask them questions whenever you need to, and they will ask you questions back, so it goes both ways. There’s a lot of support and people are always happy to help, from senior management to cleaners. The fact that people do take the time has done wonders for my progress.

In my current role I’m responsible for just under 400 drivers. It’s been a big a jump from the first year here. But, it almost felt like it hadn’t come soon enough – by the end of the programme, I was keen to put what I’d learned into practice.

Looking forward, I’m aiming to be an Operations Manager in the next 12-18 months, which is a realistic prospect considering all that I’ve gained from the programme. Every bit of experience I’ve picked up has counted."