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Bus or coach driver apprenticeships

Transport

Bus or coach driver apprenticeships - where to start

You can get into this job through
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

    • Apprenticeship
    You can get into this job through a passenger transport driver Level 2 apprenticeship. You'll usually need some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent.


    Direct Application
    You'll usually apply to bus or coach companies and train on the job. You would be put through Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) driver training that normally lasts between 1 and 6 weeks. Your employer would also give you training for the Certificate of Professional Competence or Driver CPC.

    Bus or coach driver apprenticeships - what it takes

    Skills and knowledge

    You'll need: 

    • customer service skills 
    • knowledge of public safety and security 
    • to be thorough and pay attention to detail 
    • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations 
    • knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits 
    • the ability to work well with others 
    • the ability to operate and control equipment 
    • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure 
    • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
    Restrictions and Requirements
    You'll need to: 

    • have a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) - this is known as the Driver CPC 
    • be over 18 years of age
    • have a full driving licence
    Every 5 years you'll need to: 

    • take 35 hours of Driver CPC training
    • renew your bus driving licence if you're aged 45 or over 
    For some jobs you’ll also need a digital tachograph card.

    Bus or coach driver apprenticeships - what you'll do

    Day-to-day tasks

    In this role you could: 

    • take fares 
    • check tickets and passes 
    • give timetable or route information 
    • help passengers who are having difficulty getting on or off the vehicle 
    • drive safely and keep to timetables 
    If you're a coach driver, you may also: 

    • greet passengers and check documents
    • load and unload luggage 
    • make announcements during the journey
    • make sure passengers are back on board for return journeys, and after scheduled stops 
    • keep the coach clean and do basic vehicle checks 
    • record driving hours and report any incidents 
    • for trips abroad, keep passengers up to date with travel information and deal with border control authorities
    Working environment
    You could work from a vehicle. You may need to wear a uniform.

    Career path and progression - Bus or coach driver apprenticeships

    With experience, you could become a service controller or inspector, depot manager or driver training instructor. You could also set up your own business. For this you'll need the Transport Manager CPC in Passenger Transport. This could be done through a local training provider.

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    Considering an Apprenticeship?

    There are lots of benefits to apprenticeships, here are our top 5:

    • Paid Training
      Not only will your organisation (or the Government) pay for all of your training, but you’ll be paid to do it. That means you could actually get paid to get your degree and have no debt!
    • Range of career opportunities
      There are over 625 different apprenticeships to choose from, in a range of industries. Whether you’re interested in law, marketing, construction or engineering, you’ll find something up your street!
    • Earn & learn
      As an apprentice, the minimum you’ll earn is £6.20 an hour, but we’ve seen apprentices earn a starting salary of up to £30,000 a year! You could also get other employee benefits like gym memberships, paid holiday and sick pay.
    • Great career prospects
      Employers think apprentices are 15% more employable than those with other qualifications. In fact, many large employers train their graduates and apprentices together!
    • Learn on the job
      There’s only so much you can learn when you just do a qualification. As an apprentice, you’ll also get to learn on the job - whether that’s designing amazing graphics, chopping vegetables or building engines!

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