Like father, like son: Stagecoach celebrates the generations driving forward the family tradition this Father’s Day

With family links spanning across departments and regions, Stagecoach is celebrating the unique bond of its multi-generational workforces - from the engineering bays of the East to the operational leadership team in the South West.

From the workshop to management: The Patricks

In the East of England, the Patricks are a prime example of how shared values can drive career success. Nathan Patrick, now an Engineering Manager, joined the company in 2018 fresh out of a truck dealership apprenticeship. At the time, his father, Nick, was already working there as a Shift Fitter. Today, they continue to work together, with Nick now thriving as a Day Fitter.

"It was exciting to have the opportunity to work with my Dad back in 2018," says Nathan. "It was good to have that extra support and familiarity when joining a new company. I am extremely proud to work together with my Dad. We’re very similar in that we are always keen to learn and want to do a good job.

"I’ve always looked up to my Dad throughout his career in the bus industry. I admire his hard work and how highly he is respected amongst his peers. Stagecoach has always had lots of family links between departments - it talks to the values of the company that families, generation after generation, choose to work here."

A full-circle journey on the roads: The Growns

Meanwhile, in the South West, a lifelong passion for transport has come full circle for David Growns and his son, Josh.

David’s love for the industry started in childhood, sparked by his own father taking him out to watch buses and trains at weekends. He went on to build a 20+ year career, progressing from a frontline driver to senior operational leadership positions, including Controller and Operations Manager.

Now, his son Josh is following in those exact footsteps. Josh joined Stagecoach two years ago as a cleaner and shunter before joining the apprenticeship scheme. Having completed his training in Exeter and gained experience in Barnstaple, Josh has officially qualified as a bus driver.

"I grew up around buses and it just felt natural to be around them," says Josh. "Working here has given me the chance to build my own path in the industry. It is a team environment and everyone helps each other out. It feels like you are part of something that really matters."

David adds: "It is a job where you make a difference every day and I still enjoy it as much now as when I started."

Beyond the workforce: connecting generations of passengers

The spirit of Father’s Day doesn't stop at the depot gates. For decades, Stagecoach buses have served as the backdrop for lifelong family memories, connecting parents and children in communities right across the UK.

For one passenger, the top deck of the bus remains a place of profound connection to his father's hard work.

"I remember getting the first bus with Dad to his work," he shares. "He was away 12 hours a day, and he’d send me back on the next bus after we had breakfast together at the station. It made me truly appreciate all he did. The sunrise is so beautiful through the countryside from the top deck at the front where he always sat. I try to always sit there too now."

For another passenger, the bus route was where a childhood bond was formed - one that she hopes to pass down to the next generation.

"My dad was a bus driver before he retired, and when I was little I would ride around on his bus," she recalls. "I used to talk to all of the passengers and sing to them to keep them entertained. Even though I don't remember a lot of the people I spoke to, they still remember me, and to this day continue to tell me how much they enjoyed it. I now have a little boy of my own and hope that he will one day make someone on the bus smile too."

Investing in the future

Stagecoach continues to invest heavily in the next generation of transport professionals. Through its apprenticeship schemes, robust engineering pathways, and dedication to internal promotion, Stagecoach offers more than just a job; it provides a platform for lifelong career progression.

These multi-generational stories highlight that Stagecoach is not only keeping local communities moving today, but is the ideal place for families to build stable, rewarding careers together. This Father’s Day, as the business celebrates the dads and sons driving the industry forward, Stagecoach invites the next generation of talent to kickstart their own journeys. To find out more about engineering, driving, and apprenticeship opportunities, visit: www.stagecoachbus.com/careers

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