Rochdale-based Mellor is busy building new Bee Network buses for local community routes, as part of hundreds of vehicles being made in the UK for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network. These orders are not only keeping jobs secure but also creating new ones in Greater Manchester and across the UK.
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| Transport for Greater Manchester |
Thanks to the Bee Network’s move to bring public transport under local control, Mellor is one of the firms benefiting. The company has already put 21 buses into service in Rochdale and is working on seven more for the south of Greater Manchester, where local control will kick in on 5th January.
This marks the first time in nearly 40 years that Greater Manchester has regained control over its bus services, allowing the city to set high standards and ensure passengers travel in the best vehicles. On 17th October, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, visited Mellor to see the new buses rolling off the production line and meet some of the apprentices whose roles have been created through Bee Network bus orders.
These orders have supported 15 new apprentice roles, building on a wider investment in public transport that has seen hundreds of buses ordered, worth millions of pounds. This shows how the Bee Network is driving economic growth and job creation.
Mayor Andy Burnham said,
“Greater Manchester is proving the case for change in public transport. We’re keeping fares down, improving bus reliability, and getting more people onboard through the Bee Network. This investment is also creating jobs across the UK, like those at Mellor. Meeting young apprentices benefiting from this scheme is proof that investment in transport supports both local communities and the wider economy.”
The new fleet of Mellor Strata LF bodied Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 CDI buses are designed to serve smaller estates and rural areas often neglected by operators focusing on busier, more profitable routes. By connecting people to services, jobs, and leisure opportunities, these buses are playing a vital role in communities.
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| Transport for Greater Manchester |
Mellor apprentices get hands-on experience while working alongside skilled staff and following a college day-release programme. This is part of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s wider plan to transform technical education, with pathways for young people into skilled careers through the Bee Network MBacc.
John Cliffe, Head of Operations at Mellor, said,
“We’re proud to support the Bee Network with our compact, low-carbon buses that improve access to public transport and help connect communities. Our apprentices are embarking on an exciting career journey with us as part of an 18-month programme developed with Hopwood Hall College, giving them experience across the business. This is our first group under the new Woodall Nicholson Apprenticeship scheme, and we look forward to welcoming many more.”
Beyond Mellor, other UK manufacturers involved include Alexander Dennis, who is building 415 buses in Scotland and Scarborough, and Wrightbus in Northern Ireland, who is producing 162. Wrightbus claims every pound they generate adds £3 to the wider economy, with each job supporting three more in the supply chain.
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| Transport for Greater Manchester |
The Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s vision for a London-style integrated transport system, took its first steps in September 2023 by taking control of buses for the first time in nearly 40 years. With the final phase rolling out in January 2024, the network is set to combine buses, trams and active travel, with rail to follow by 2028.
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