Leading transport provider, National Express, continues to support South and City College Birmingham in a long-term partnership to create more engineering apprenticeship and employment opportunities across the city. 

To recognise 10 years of working together, National Express has donated a third coach to South and City College Birmingham. The vehicle is now out on the road sporting the college’s iconic bright pink and purple branding. 

The donated coach, which was once part of National Express Transport Solutions’ fleet, will be used by South and City College to move students between their two Birmingham campuses as well as for travel to and from educational trips across the UK. 

National Express works closely with the college to deliver engineering apprenticeship opportunities. The goal is to provide students with the skills, qualifications and experience required to be job-ready when they go on to future employment.

Mike Hopkins, Principal of South and City College Birmingham, said: 

“National Express has supported the College for many years and our partnership of over 10-years continues to go from strength to strength. 

“It is fantastic that they have again donated a coach for the benefit of our students which will provide us with the means to transport them to activities around the UK and of course between our campuses across Birmingham.

“This and the partnership we have with National Express provides real benefits to many local communities and enables us to upskill people in Birmingham so I cannot express my gratitude enough.”

Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK, said: 

“We are proud to be a long-standing local partner of South and City College Birmingham and are absolutely thrilled to be in a position to provide a coach to help more students get out and enjoy educational visits.

“As one of the region's largest private sector employers, it is important that we work together with the college to provide young people in the community with local education, training and skills opportunities in order to support them in getting ready for future employment.” 

In 2018, the two partners launched the National Express Training Academy, based at South and City’s Bordesley campus in Birmingham. The Academy includes a number of classrooms, along with a replica bus workshop with an MOT pit lane and brake roller tester to provide students with hands-on experience of working with vehicles. 

The neighbours, who have led the regeneration in the Digbeth area for years, are now celebrating a decade of working together.

Tom Stables added: “The partnership we have with South and City College Birmingham has been and is still so important. We hope it will continue for many more years to come.”