Budding artists from City of Portsmouth College have been given the chance to showcase their creativity in a design challenge celebrating 100 years of Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth Apprentice Bus 2026 invited the city’s young creatives to design a full bus wrap – transforming a Stagecoach city bus into a vibrant, mobile showcase that captures Portsmouth’s unique identity.

Delivered in collaboration with Mountjoy, Portsmouth Creates, Shaping Portsmouth, Solent Careers Hub, Portsmouth City Council, Stagecoach, Media Fleet, Comserv and HTP Apprenticeship College the shortlist will be announced on 18 November, and the winning design will be revealed during National Apprenticeship Week (February 2026).

Once unveiled, the bus will embark on a four-day roadshow across the city’s senior schools, inspiring students to explore exciting career pathways through apprenticeships.

This year’s theme, “Portsmouth Opportunity – PO”, invites students to interpret the city’s iconic postcode through the lens of people, place, purpose and potential. The thought-provoking challenge comes at a fitting moment, marking Portsmouth’s 100-year centenary celebrations and shining a light on the city’s next generation of workforce.

The bus will not only showcase local creative talent, but also serve as a moving message of opportunity – highlighting apprenticeships as valuable, accessible, hands-on routes into rewarding careers and helping young people connect with those already on their apprenticeship journeys.

Orla Crean, Curriculum Manager Visual Arts & Media at City of College Portsmouth “The opportunity for our Level 2 art and design students to work on a real life project brief, working with clients to create the art work for the apprenticeship bus has been amazing. Demonstrating to our students that their creative ideas have a place beyond the classroom, and inspiring them to become next generation of local artists for our city.”

Students at the college added: “This opportunity allowed us to bring our creative ideas into reality and we’re really looking forward to seeing some of our artwork driving around the city promoting apprenticeships.”

Gemma Nichols, CEO of Portsmouth Creates said: “Creativity and opportunity go hand in hand, and the Apprenticeship Bus brings that connection to life, designed by young people, for young people. They’re at the heart of this project, from concept through to creation, shaping how the message of opportunity is shared across our city. It’s been fantastic to work alongside Shaping Portsmouth and Mountjoy to champion hands-on creative learning and showcase the creative sector as a viable and inspiring career path. At Portsmouth Creates, we’re committed to supporting clear pathways and open access into the creative industries, ensuring the next generation can see, experience, and build their futures within them.”

Simon Ingram, MD/Owner of Mountjoy and Apprenticeship Bus Volunteer Programme Lead said: We are so excited by this new collaboration with Portsmouth Creates and the light it is shining on the creative industry in our city. These types of opportunities rarely come along, so to have 25 budding art students eagerly designing the Bus Wrap themed around Portsmouth 100 Centenary celebration is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 

We will share more about the Portsmouth Apprentice Bus over the next couple of months.