To compete to recruit the ‘best’ alongside other sectors, the transport sector needs to raise its profile and improve its image.

To do this WYTESA recognises that it needs to start by building upon the existing teams within the industry and through them, identify the key skills needed. Having assessed the industry’s requirements WYTESA then aims to ensure those skills are part of the school curriculum and university courses.

Representatives on WYTESA, include University of Leeds, various government bodies, Unison, various bus and rail operators and Transport Institutes, Government Office (Yorkshire and the Humber), DfES, Connexions, Education Leeds as well as Leeds Bradford International Airport.

As well as ensuring that the skills required are provided through school and further education, WYTESA recognise that it has a role to raise the profile of the public transport as an appealing  career option young people when they are making choices about their futures. A key element of the initiative is addressing culture change issues across transport organisations.

Audiences for WYTESA, which has just published its first newsletter, will be:

• school pupils and school leavers up to 16 years old;
• sixth form/college students and other 16 to 20 year-olds;
• further education students;
• employees.

As well as suggesting educational course material WYTESA will be targeting these groups through visits, work placements and links to ongoing initiatives such as the Citizenship Curriculum.

So far, Metro itself has adopted a management trainee scheme and it is hoped that more individuals with a flair for leadership as well as an appreciation of public transport will be recruited in this manner. Metro, has a rigorous management development centre aimed at all those employees who manage other people. Through this, managers at Metro are given action plans to help them develop in areas which need strengthening.

WYTESA is also developing solutions to help organisations retain key employees including flexible working arrangements and incentives. The group’s immediate objectives are to:

• link in with school curriculum packages, initially through pilot schools;
• continue with Investors in People;
• devise innovative recruitment and retention initiatives;
• host and participate in conferences, jobs fairs and other events to target pupils;
• promote Lifelong learning;
• encourage creative advertising;
• obtain further funding sources.