Currently available in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Tees Valley.

Start a career that you love, with a great salary and guaranteed hours. Train for free and become a bus driver in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Tees Valley.

‘Route to Success’ is a free training programme that takes people with no bus driving experience and equips them with the skills to become professional drivers.    

Whether you’re unemployed and looking to get back into work, or employed but looking to retrain into a new career, this course is your opportunity to take the wheel and start an exciting new career.  

In just a few weeks, you will gain new skills and get behind the wheel of a bus. Once the programme is over don’t worry, we’ll introduce you to employers in the area so you can start your dream career without delay. 

The programme is split into three stages: 

• Stage one – myth busting and engagement

In stage one, you’ll be learning all about the skills you need to excel in the profession.  

From myth-busting to expectations of a bus driver, through to a day in the life of and progression stories. We’ll introduce you to the theory tests and hazard perceptions tests and you’ll even get to have a go at the mock tests.

• Stage two – hands on bus driving experience *limited places* (Only available in West Yorkshire)

On successful completion of stage one, you will also complete your driving licence application and undertake your medical test. We like to get these important elements sorted in the first week to ensure that you can get started in your new role without delay.

You will then learn the practical skills required to safely operate a passenger carrying vehicle. This is the part where you will gain hands-on driving experience with our partners. You will also prepare for, and undertake theory testing but don’t worry, we’ll make sure you are well prepared.

Start your new career 

At the end of the programme, you will be ready to start your new career. At this point you will progress on to a guaranteed interview with a passenger transport operator in your area. 

To create and deliver Route to Success, funding has been made available from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Whether you’re unemployed and looking to get back into work, or employed but looking to retrain into a new career, this course is your opportunity to take the wheel and start an exciting new career. 

To complete the programme, you will need to be: 

• Over the age of 19 
• Living in West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, or Liverpool City Region
• A car driver (with a category B licence)  

And that’s it!  

This course is packed with all the elements you need to start a bright career in bus driving.

You can expect to cover: 

• PCV licence application  
• Medical test 
• Digicard application (subject to employer requirements)
• On road driving (tailored to meet the individual learner needs) 
• Vehicle introductions 
• Theory and hazard practice and test 
• Virtual work experience 
• Customer service 
• Future planning: job opportunities  
• Health & safety  
• DBS checks  
• Practical training including your driving test 

After the programme, you can expect a guaranteed interview with an employer near you. 

We asked people what they liked about being a bus driver, they said:

• Great pay 
• Full time work guaranteed – no zero-hour contracts! 
• Chance for overtime  
• Every day is unique 
• Meeting new people  
• Being responsible for their passengers  
• Making a difference to the lives of others