Fastrack Your Future: Careers On The Buses

Last month, young people in Kent got the chance to see their future from the driver’s seat.

On Tuesday 3rd February, Fastrack rolled into the JGA Group’s ‘Healthier Futures’ 16-18 provision in Dartford for an inspiring and interactive careers talk designed to open doors into engineering, clean transport, and apprenticeship pathways. From 1:00–2:30 PM, learners explored what it really takes to keep a fleet of buses running smoothly and how they could become part of that journey.

Engineering the Future

Led by Fastrack’s Head of Service, Isobel Hedley-Jones, alongside an experienced driver/engineer, the session went far beyond a typical presentation. Students heard first-hand accounts of life in the industry, from maintaining cutting-edge clean-fuelling buses to responding to real-time technical challenges on the road.

The focus was clear: engineering is not just a job, it’s a career with momentum

JGA-SP-Dartford-Fastrack-Buses
JGA-SP-Dartford-Fastrack-Buses

Learners were introduced to:

  • Entry-level roles in engineering and clean bus technology
  • Day-to-day responsibilities within fleet maintenance
  • Career progression routes within Fastrack
  • The Engineering Apprenticeship Programme launching this September

For young people aged 16–20, the apprenticeship programme stood out as a powerful career launchpad, combining hands-on experience with structured training and long-term career prospects.

JGA-SP-Dartford-Fastrack-Buses
JGA-SP-Dartford-Fastrack-Buses

Learning Objectives in Action

The session aimed to:

  • Raise awareness of engineering and transport careers in Kent
  • Highlight accessible entry routes for school leavers
  • Provide real-world insight from industry professionals
  • Encourage questions, curiosity, and confidence in career planning

By the end of the afternoon, learners had a clearer understanding of how technical skills translate into meaningful work and how industries like transport are evolving through clean energy and innovation.

Taking the Wheel

This wasn’t just another careers talk. It was a reminder that opportunity can arrive right outside your door…sometimes quite literally.

With apprenticeship pathways opening in September and growing demand for skilled engineers in sustainable transport, Fastrack’s visit showed that the fast lane to success isn’t reserved for a select few.

For many students in Dartford that day, the journey towards a future in engineering may well have started the moment they stepped on board.

The session formed part of JGA’s wider support for learners on the 16–18 ‘Healthier Futures’, an alternative to school and college which helps young people build the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to progress into employment, apprenticeships or further education. Through employability training, industry insight sessions and work-related learning opportunities, the programme supports learners in exploring career pathways and planning their next steps. Find out more about the 16–18 Study Programme here: https://www.jga-group.com/16-18s-provision/.