Bus Driver Apprentice

Metroline; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking driven individuals to join their Bus Driver Apprenticeship program. This exciting opportunity allows you to gain essential skills while being supported in a public-facing role. Over a 13-month period, you will receive comprehensive training that combines practical driving experience with classroom education, ensuring you are well-prepared for a career in transport. With excellent pay rates and various benefits, this role is perfect for those eager to progress into supervisory and management positions. If you are enthusiastic and committed, this is your chance to kick-start a rewarding career.

Benefits

Free Bus Travel for yourself + 3

Free on-site parking

Pension Scheme Contributions

Benefits Hub

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free uniform

TOTUM Student Discount

Qualifications

• Must hold a full valid, and clean UK driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.
• Achieve Entry Level 3 or above in Functional Skills Initial Assessments.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the safe transport of passengers on all Metroline’s bus routes.
• Obtain your Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence and Drivers Qualification Card.

Skills

Customer Service

Communication Skills

Driving Skills

Route Learning

Education

Entry Level 3 in Functional Skills

Tools

Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence

Job description

Metroline Manchester is a recently formed subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, in March 2024 we were awarded contracts to operate four franchises and join the Bee Network in Greater Manchester by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). Since then, we have gone live and launched operation in January 2025. Metroline was formed in 1989, fourth largest bus operator in London running about 17 percent of the city’s scheduled bus services and has been a part of the largest private land transport company Comfort Del Gro since 2000. We are 6,000 colleagues strong across the UK and help carry over one million of our customers every day, whilst Comfort Del Gro operates in 12 countries with a global fleet of over 40,000 vehicles and more than 22,000 colleagues.

Job Summary

Pay: £12.60 in training rising to £13-14 after 2-3 months

Do you enjoy driving and like the sound of being in a public facing role? Are you driven and excited to learn new skills to become a professional Bus Driver for the Bee Network in Greater Manchester? Here at Metroline Manchester we’re changing how we do public transport for our local communities and by joining our Bus Driver Apprenticeship you can follow the road to success in an environment where you are supported, understood and encouraged to develop professionally and personally.

We are offering the unique opportunity to join Metroline Manchester as an Apprentice Bus Driver, completing an enhanced training package over a 13-month period. You will be enrolled onto the Level 2 Passenger Transport Bus Driver Apprenticeship, which we deliver in partnership with industry experts Realise. Don’t worry, you’ll still be on the road driving one of our yellow busses within two months. The apprenticeship provides enhanced training in addition to this, with regular classroom and on-bus sessions to build your knowledge even further.

We are a great career destination as our apprenticeship programme is all about building transferable skills and knowledge which will help you grow and progress within the Transport industry. We want to see how driven and enthusiastic you are, because to really succeed you have to be fully committed and grab every opportunity that comes your way. We see the apprenticeship as a brilliant way to kick start your career and work towards progression into Supervisory and Management positions.

What to expect

As an Apprentice Bus Driver, you will be responsible for the safe transport of passengers on all Metroline’s bus routes. As part of the 13-month apprenticeship, you will obtain your Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence and Drivers Qualification Card within the first 2 months. The apprenticeship will give you a blended training experience, combining practical driver training with educational classroom sessions. During your apprenticeship, you will receive:

• Practical on the road training, enabling you to secure your PCV licence (Full Cat D)
• The apprenticeship will cover Core Knowledge and Understanding, Safety, Quality, Customer Service and Operating a Passenger Vehicle.
• Route learning and Vehicle familiarisation
• 9 classroom sessions delivered by our industry expert partners
• Level 1 Qualifications in Maths & English, should you choose to include this option in your pathway
• Full PCV licence training provided
• Excellent rates of pay that rise based on length of service
• Free Bus Travel for yourself + 3 (a companion and 2 children OR 3 children)
• Free on-site parking
• Pension Scheme Contributions
• Benefits Hub
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free uniform
• TOTUM Student Discount
• For this position, we require all candidates to have held a full valid, and clean UK driving licence for aminimum of 12 months.
• Candidates must achieve Entry Level 3 or above in Functional Skills Initial Assessments, to be suitable for the Level 2 apprenticeship.
• A positive and professional approach with excellent communication skills to engage and assist our passengers from all walks of life.
• We need you to be prepared to work varying shifts including early starts, late finishes and weekends.

If you believe you have what it takes and are up for the challenge we would love to hear from you! Please click apply now and send in your CV along with a short intro why you’d like to join Metroline Manchester as an Apprentice Bus Driver.

The Equality Act

Metroline is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with due regard to legal obligations for protected characteristics i.e., age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Hours of Work

Full time permanent contract 38 hours per week – 5 working days a week
Shift work – flexibility required to work early starts, late finishes and weekends

If you believe you have what it takes and are up for the challenge we would love to hear from you! Please click apply now and send in your CV along with a short intro why you’d like to join Metroline Manchester as an Apprentice Bus Driver.

The Equality Act

Metroline is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment with due regard to legal obligations for protected characteristics i.e., age, disability, marriage and civil partnership, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

we deliver safe, reliable and sustainable transport to our communities