Trainee Bus Driver – Full‑time

About the role

Join Arriva’s Ashington depot as a Trainee Bus Driver and start a rewarding career delivering essential transport services to the local community. You will receive full paid training, earn your PCV licence and work alongside experienced mentors on a rotating shift pattern.

Key responsibilities

• Operate a passenger bus safely on assigned routes, adhering to timetables.
• Provide courteous customer service, assisting passengers with enquiries and boarding.
• Conduct pre‑ and post‑journey safety checks and report any issues.
• Maintain accurate records of mileage, fuel usage and incident reports.
• Follow all regulatory and company policies, including drug and alcohol testing.

Required profile

• Minimum age of 21 years for the Ashington depot.
• At least six months of prior driving experience.
• No more than six penalty points on your driving licence.
• Pass a drug and alcohol test and an English comprehension assessment.
• Strong people skills and the flexibility to work shifts starting as early as 04:00.

Required skills

• Valid PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence.

What we offer

• Fully paid training programme (approximately 4 weeks) leading to a PCV licence.
• Mentorship and ongoing CPC training.
• Competitive hourly rate (£13.70‑£16.45) with weekend and bank‑holiday premiums.
• 28‑33 days of annual leave, onsite gym, and a £50 monthly voucher competition.
• Clear career progression into management, training or specialist driver roles.
• Rotating shift pattern published 6‑8 weeks in advance, with overtime available.