Bus operators Stagecoach are doing their bit to get more women to get into engineering in Manchester and across the UK.
The travel service that provides buses around theGreater Manchester andCheshire area has launched a new campaign called, ‘Engineering Your Future’, the aim of which is to encourage more women to pursue a career in the field.
WhileStagecoach Manchester has around 130 skilled engineers who ensure their various fleets of vehicles are well-maintained and able to meet the demand for everyday travel, only 3.1% of their skilled engineer workforce are women.
Keeping that in mind, their goal is to address theunderrepresentation of women in both the engineering and transport sectors from 2023 onwards.
Spotlighting three of their talented engineers, Karen, Jess and Chelsea, each of them goes on to explain how they got into engineering, the transport industry as a whole and what the job involves.
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The campaign aims to help promote the opportunities available through Stagecoach’s engineering apprenticeship programme, hopefully, encouraging more women to apply.
Crucially, it’s worth noting that Stagecoach Manchester are just looking to hire people at entry level and leave them to it; many of their apprentices have gone on to be managers and even Engineering Directors after completing their studies and going into employment with the company.
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Janine Summers, Regional Director at Stagecoach and a driving force behind the campaign said: “At Stagecoach, we are committed to supporting and promoting women across the transport sector, so we would love to see more women starting their careers with us and coming through our ranks.”
“I’d urge any woman to explore her options and consider engineering as their career path. This is the beginning of something special at Stagecoach.”
This year, we’d love to see more women join our workforce at Stagecoach Manchester, particularly through our upcoming Apprenticeship programme which is set to launch next month.
Register your interest in an apprenticeship with Stagecoach Manchester here: https://t.co/7524SEuWRr
Moreover, the launch of the campaign is part of Stagecoach’s wider commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment, aiming to attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce.
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They have set themselves the target of achieving 40% of women in leadership roles and workforce in which 25% identify as an ethnic minority by 2026. Representation matters and we’re always happy to hear local business taking this seriously — it’s more than just words.
Stagecoach has employee-led diversity and inclusion networks, including those supporting women and in the last 12 months these networks have led the charge when it comes to developing new family-friendly policies such as miscarriage, maternity, paternity and adoption leave. You love to see it.
Operations Director Rebecca Rathore said: “Women have long been underrepresented in engineering, especially in the transport sector. Stagecoach Manchester is committed to changing that and helping women achieve their full potential.
“Working in public transport is enjoyable and rewarding and our depot teams are supportive and friendly places to work. It’s one big family.”
As for MD, Lee Wasnidge, he assured that: “Stagecoach recognises people of all genders and backgrounds. We know everyone plays a fundamental role in our success. We have a duty to create a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve.”
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If you or someone you know is looking for a career change and might want to spearhead a new generation of engineers and women in the transport sector, you can visit Stagecoach Manchester’s careers page for more information and register your interest in an apprenticeship HERE.
Thanks to Terminal 2’s major upgrade, now holidays really do start at Manchester Airport
Danny Jones
It’s a phrase that’s almost as old as air travel itself, but luckily, Manchester Airport are well and truly getting your holidays started early, courtesy of the new and improved Terminal 2.
T2‘s massive upgrade technically finished in 2025, but with other bits debuting already this year and even more to come in 2026, Manchester’s biggest terminal is a more fully-fledged travel hub than ever.
Complete everything from the essentials and a healthy supply of food and drink, to lots of luxuries and plenty of ways to unwind and kill time between both before and after flights, you can feel extra smug about getting to the airport early.
As part of their latest ‘Terminal Explorer’ campaign, we recently paid a visit to see just how much fun we could get up to in and around T2. Spoilers: quite a lot.
With a little help from their wayfinding screens dotted around the various areas, from the World Duty Free section and ever-growing internal shopping district, to all the bars and restaurants that have opened since the big refurb, we took ourselves on a very fun day out.
And that was without even having an actual holiday booked to look forward to, so just imagine how good it must feel to top all this off with a real trip away.
In fact, you don’t even need to think that hard about it; roughly 80% of all passengers heading in and out of Manchester Airport now come through T2, and with the experience improving all the time, they’re seeing a serious uptick in visitors and their time spent enjoying some leisure before their getaway.
From additions like the LEGO store to keep the kids entertained, as well as numerous places to grab a brew, a bite, or even your first adult beverage of the holiday, it’s up to you how you choose to explore – they’ve just given you plenty of options.
There’s no bigger testament to the latest hospitality offerings in Terminal 2 than the recently opened Great Northern Market, which brings a rather big taste of the Mackie Mayor vibe to Manchester Airport.
A VERY comfortable place to wind down any wait times before you fly.
You’ll be blown away by the amount of choice on offer in here – we certainly were – and, of course, the multi-vendor culinary destination epicentre is just one of many fantastic food and drink offerings now boasted by the T2 ‘2.0.’
For instance, we could happily spend most of the time before our next hypothetical flight just chilling in the super stylish Fever-Tree Bar, which includes a wonderful range of breakfast and light bites, charcuterie boards, small plates, sandwiches and so on – plus a cocktail menu perfect for any occasion.
Put simply, you’ve now been given all the tools and means to turn downtime of almost any duration into an excuse to explore Manchester Airport at its best; in fact, scratch that: it’s an opportunity to go for a wander and make the most of it – and it’s one you don’t want to waste.
Whether it’s stocking up pre-flight or kicking back with your first drink of many, don’t just be another person sitting watching the departures board, be a terminal explorer.
Sensory-friendly Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Emily Sergeant
This week marks the start of Neurodiversity Celebration Week.
Approximately 15-20% of the population has a neurological difference, according to the most recent statistics, and Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16-20 March 2026) highlighting the importance of championing, raising awareness of, and accommodating neurodiverse people.
And Printworks is marking the occasion in its own special way, with a series of new initiatives designed to create a more ‘inclusive’ and ‘sensory-friendly’ environment.
You may already know that the popular indoor entertainment complex in the heart of Manchester city centre is home to more than a dozen bars, restaurants, and leisure activities – including one of the largest IMAX screens on the continent – and Europe’s largest digital ceiling too, of course, but this week’s experience is unlike anything the venue has welcomed before.
Throughout the week, Printworks will be transforming its digital ceiling with calming Northern Lights and constellations which have been specifically designed to create a relaxed, sensory-friendly atmosphere for visitors with additional sensory needs.
Northern Lights to illuminate Printworks’ digital ceiling to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week / Credit: Supplied
As part of a long-term commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, Printworks is also introducing a weekly sensory-friendly hour every Sunday too, where lighting throughout the venue will be dimmed, and music and SFX volumes reduced for a reduced-stimulus environment.
200 free sensory packs – which can be collected at Vue cinema – with a pair of ear defenders and sensory-friendly toys, designed to support visitors who may benefit from sensory tools while enjoying the venue, are also on offer throughout the course of the week.
On top of this, there’s also a range of autism-friendly cinema screenings taking place on the last Sunday of every month at 10:30am.
An additional autism-friendly screening will be taking place with a showing of Hoppers this Sunday 22 March at 10:30am, with tickets now available from Vue’s website.
“Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important time for brands and venues to recognise and support the diverse ways visitors and audiences experience the world,” commented Dan Davis, who is the General Manager at Printworks.
Danny Jones -
15th March 2023 
