ZF supports next generation of bus technicians with Go-Ahead apprentice training
ZF Aftermarket has welcomed 30 apprentices from Go-Ahead Group for a comprehensive technical training programme, supporting the development of the next generation of bus and coach technicians.
Delivered to groups of apprentices over four weeks, the dedicated programme combined classroom-based learning with practical, hands-on experience to provide participants with a broad understanding of ZF products and systems found across passenger transport fleets.
The apprentices received training covering gearboxes, axles, diagnostics, WABCO systems and electric drive motors, with sessions designed to develop both their technical knowledge and confidence in a real-world workshop environment.
Following a site induction, tour and introduction to ZF and its product portfolio, apprentices moved into practical and classroom-based technical sessions.
Gearbox training included an overview of the ZF EcoLife transmission, its operation and components, alongside basic maintenance requirements such as oil change intervals.
Apprentices were also given practical insight into axle systems, including a kingpin change demonstration and the opportunity to examine a stripped rear axle to better understand its internal components and operation.
The programme also covered basic axle maintenance, design and application differences, before moving into WABCO systems with hands-on demonstrations and an introduction to supporting online tools.
Diagnostics formed another key part of the training, with apprentices gaining experience of Testman and ZF Scan and developing their understanding of how diagnostic tools can support effective fault finding and system assessment.
Reflecting the changing technology within modern bus fleets, the week concluded with an introduction to electric drive motors, covering their purpose, location and basic maintenance requirements.
Across the programme, emphasis was placed on helping apprentices understand not only how systems and components operate, but also how that knowledge can be applied to routine servicing, maintenance and fault finding, while reinforcing safe working practices.
Of the 30 apprentices who completed the training, six were female, representing 20 percent of the group and providing an encouraging indication of increasing diversity among the next generation entering technical roles within the sector.
David Wakeling, Head of CV Aftermarket at ZF Services UK, commented: “We were delighted to welcome the Go-Ahead apprentices and give them the opportunity to spend time with our technical teams and products.
“Developing the next generation of technicians is incredibly important for the bus and coach sector, particularly as the technology they will be working with continues to evolve. We wanted this programme to go beyond the classroom, giving the apprentices the opportunity to see components first-hand, understand how they work and develop practical knowledge they can take back into their day-to-day roles.
“It was also particularly encouraging to see six female apprentices among the group. Attracting people from a wider range of backgrounds into technical careers will be important in addressing the industry’s future skills requirements, so it was fantastic to see that reflected within the groups we welcomed.”
The training forms part of ZF’s wider commitment to supporting skills development and knowledge sharing across the passenger transport sector, helping technicians build the expertise required to maintain increasingly sophisticated vehicle systems throughout their working lives.