Apprenticeships with First Bus

Drive your career forward and get behind the wheel of a bus!

Course overview

At a glance

Level

2

Duration

13 months

Location

Multiple locations

About the course

Gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours that will enable you to work as a professional bus driver for one of the UK’s top transport companies.

A First Bus apprenticeship will give you a unique training experience, combining practical training and off-the-job learning activities over a 13-month programme. This means you’ll gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the transport industry, providing you with the starting point to a great career.

Is this course right for you?

There are only two things we need from you:

  • A driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points on it.
  • A passion for delivering a great customer experience.

Additionally, no formal qualifications are required although a good level of literacy and numeracy would be an advantage.

Roles available in
multiple locations

Sign up today

Apprenticeship roles are available in:

  • Bramley
  • Bradford
  • Halifax
  • Colchester
  • Chelmsford

What you’ll learn

This 13-month programme will give you the core skills needed to thrive in your role as a bus driver for First Bus.

You will learn:

  • How to safely and competently drive a passenger carrying vehicle
  • Routes and route features including restrictions
  • Safe working practices
  • Emergency and hazard management
  • Customer service skills
  • British values, equality & diversity, accessibility & self-development.

If you don’t have level 1 qualifications in English and maths, you will need to achieve this as part of your apprenticeship. Don’t worry though, our dedicated team will be on hand to support you with this.

“Bus driving can be a great career and many of the people we’ve worked with in the past tell us that they would never look back now they’ve made the leap into the transport industry.”

Kairon Flowers, Operations Director for Partnerships

How you’ll learn

Typically, your learning will take place in cohorts, with likeminded colleagues from across First Bus.

The apprenticeship will also involve:

  • 6 weeks minimum upfront training (licence acquisition and mentoring)
  • Practical assessments and on-bus observations,
  • Workshops sessions delivered at a local depot or remotely via Zoom
  • 24/7 access to a range of online learning materials and resources
  • Support from First Bus to fulfil the requirements of the programme
  • Quarterly progress reviews
  • End point assessment preparation
  • Support from English and/or maths tutors to achieve a minimum of level 1.

Our experts

The people that make it happen

Eric

Training & development officer

John

Training & development officer

close
John

Training & development officer

I work here with Realise as a transport sector training and development officer, delivering quite a dynamic and yet informative level 2 professional qualification. Much like other trainers, as a PCV Driver, I have an accumulation of 12 years experience, across different companies, I have worked duties that have covered urban, suburban, rural, and motorway routes. All of this put together with other background experiences, I look forward to assisting in the security and development of job opportunities for new vocational drivers.

Tracey

Training & development officer

close
Tracey

Training & development officer

I have 19 years’ experience in passenger transport as a driver, mentor, supervisor and trainer. I have worked for Realise as a trainer since January 2020. My role gives me great opportunities to share the knowledge and skills that I have developed over the last 19 years in passenger transport. Working with and supporting new and established drivers to give them the confidence, knowledge and skills needed to become a professional driver in the bus industry.