YESNE participant Connor Caizley has set his sights on pursuing a career in engineering or motor mechanics – and he got a taste of what that might be like recently when he completed a two-day placement at Stagecoach North East.

The 20-year-old, from Wallsend, spent two days at the public transport company’s Slatyford depot, in Newcastle upon Tyne, as part of the 16-week youth employment programme, delivered by the North East Autism Society's Employment Futures provision.

During his time at the well-known company, Connor worked alongside senior mechanics to get an understanding of what’s involved when it comes to maintaining their fleet of buses.

“I’ve been looking at gear boxes, doing some check-on services, checking the wheels. Went into the pits, checked the gear boxes and the pipes, also the crank shafts as well,” Connor says.

My favourite thing has been looking under the buses in the pits and getting experience of things that I haven’t seen before.

Connor was referred to YESNE by the Job Centre and, since enrolling on the YESNE programme, he says he has grown in confidence and feels a lot more positive about his future career prospects.

Connor is particularly grateful to programme mentor Philip Nicholson, who runs the North Shields office and works closely with YESNE participants throughout the 16-week programme.

He adds: “I want to say thank you to Phil for bringing me here and for getting my confidence up. I am really enjoying the programme. 

I’d tell other people to come into this programme – you’ll get so much experience. There’s a lot of people who can support you all the way. And if you don’t know something or don’t understand, just ask.

Connor adds: “I feel much more confident than ever.”

YESNE, which welcomed its first cohort of participants in October last year, is currently taking referrals and expressions of interest for the next cohort, with workshops set to start in April 2022.

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