Kairon Flowers, Operations Director at Realise, said: “The bus driver Skills Bootcamp provides a real opportunity to support the franchising of the bus network in Greater Manchester.

“There is a nationwide shortage of bus drivers and that has impacted on services and routes in various locations across the country.

“Bus services are crucial to the economic and social success of local communities and it’s fantastic to see Greater Manchester Combined Authority taking measures to protect them.

“The Skills Bootcamps also provide a perfect opportunity for people who are contemplating a career change or are currently not in employment to move into a job they may not have considered before.”

Realise has implemented the Route to Success programme in other regions, including West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, but this is the first time it has been delivered through the government’s Skills Bootcamp initiative.

The programme will see training delivered in all aspects of driving a bus including medical assessments, theory and hazard practice and test, on-road driving and customer service.

Kairon added: “We are looking to start the Bootcamps over the coming weeks. We will be delivering the practical bus driver training from a set location in Rochdale but we are seeking a number of different locations across Greater Manchester to deliver the classroom training and make it as accessible as possible to residents across the region.

“We will also make the delivery programme of the training as flexible as possible to allow those in employment currently to access it.

“Many of the learners who complete the course will go on to enjoy a successful role in a career they maybe didn’t see themselves exploring.

“Bus drivers can expect 38-hours guaranteed contracts and job security. For many people, it is an excellent opportunity to move away from the uncertainty of zero-hours contracts.”