Sheryll McBride was searching for a new opportunity to fit in with her busy family life. 

The 42-year-old’s eye was caught by a new training scheme launched to find up to 400 bus drivers to work in transport across the area covered by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 

The free Route to Success training programme is being delivered by leading provider Realise and has proved hugely popular in its first three months.  

Sheryll said: “I had been working as a kitchen manager at a primary school but childcare for my one-year-old was so expensive that I had to look for alternatives. 

“All of the usual jobs were coming up like beauty and hairdressing, but I was struggling to find anything that ticked my boxes – until I saw the advert for the bus driver course. 

“As a mother-of-five with children aged between one and 23, I had to buy a minibus to get everyone from A to B so I already felt confident driving larger vehicles. Driving is something I’ve always enjoyed. 

“I’ve already completed stage one of the course which looked at what being a bus driver entails and debunked some myths. I’m excited to start stage two, which is when the hands-on bus driving begins. 

“It’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me.” 

Realise, one of the UK’s leading training providers, has been appointed to run the Route to Success programme by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to significantly bolster the number of bus drivers in the region to help protect services. 

Residents of Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale who are over the age of 19 are eligible to sign up to the programme. 

Candidates complete a fully-funded theory course and then will have two options: either enrol onto one of Realise’s 75 fully-funded driver training places to access SME bus companies or progress to employment with a large operator in the area. 

The theory course can be completed flexibly over six-sessions, including over evenings and weekends to allow people the opportunity to access the bus driving industry from other careers, including retail or hospitality. 

Anyone completing the Route to Success course can expect to secure a Passenger Carrying Vehicle Licence (PCV) in an average of eight weeks and will be guaranteed an interview with a local bus provider. 

“I have been able to complete the theory part of the course at times which are convenient to me,” she said. “That has been hugely beneficial. 

“I’ve also been able to speak to working bus drivers who have told me they are able to set their own hours and some operators even support term-time only, which is important for me. 

“I’d definitely urge anyone interested in becoming a bus driver to go for it and start the journey.” 

To find out more about our course click here or visit us at the Skills Hub in the Packhorse Centre, HD1 2RT.