PCV Driver / Passenger Assistant

Cheshire East Council; Macclesfield; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Purchase of annual leave

Green car salary sacrifice

White goods salary sacrifice

Career average pension

Cycle to work scheme

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym membership

Job summary

Cheshire East Council is expanding its go-too Demand Responsive Transport offering across the borough, delivering a technology-led, flexible bus service that connects residents to work, education, healthcare and leisure. Drivers and Passenger Assistants will play a key role in building a modern, inclusive transport network.

You will work across Middlewich and Macclesfield bases, using on-board tablets and GPS to support safe, efficient journeys while assisting SEND passengers and ensuring high

Qualifications

• CPC D/PCV qualification or willingness to undertake paid fast-track CPC/PCV training (provided).
• Ability to use on-board tablet-based route/booking system with training.
• Sat-nav and map-reading experience for diverse passengers.
• Must meet medical standards for driving.
• Emergency first aid training or willingness to obtain.
• Experience driving vehicle types in the authority’s fleet.
• Awareness of needs of children, adults and older passengers.
• Knowledge of Highway Code and passenger transport legislation.
• Ability to communicate with vulnerable travellers with varied needs.
• Willingness to work rolling shifts including early, day, late and Saturdays.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the borough.
• Positive, can-do attitude and commitment to service.

Responsibilities

• Deliver a professional, welcoming and reliable transport service as part of go-too.
• Support a wide range of journeys including work, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure.
• Represent Cheshire East Council with a professional attitude and reliability.
• Use technology to support a modern, flexible transport service and comply with safety standards.
• May act as Passenger Assistant to support SEND passengers.

Skills

CPC D PCV licence

Tech literacy

Sat-nav/map reading

Medical fitness

First aid training

Passenger awareness

Tools

Tablet route system

GPS navigation

Fleet knowledge

Job description

“Be part of the future of bus travel.”

In this role, you’ll be joining Cheshire East Council at one of the most exciting moments in our transport transformation. We’re expanding go-too – our modern, flexible, technology‑led Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service – across the entire borough, creating a new way for residents to travel. DRT is the future of bus travel: smarter and designed around the real journeys people need to make.

Go‑too has already proven successful through its pilot in the Nantwich and rural area and is now growing into a borough‑wide service, bringing together our local transport offers into a single, modern, inclusive bus service. Go‑too will support passengers of all ages – from children and young people to older residents – and play an important role in supporting the wider bus and rail network across Cheshire East. Go‑too is designed to complement existing commercial and supported routes by helping residents connect with the wider public transport system, not replace it.

We welcome both qualified drivers and those without a CPC or PCV licence, as full fast‑track, paid training will be provided. Whether you’re an experienced driver seeking a fresh challenge or someone looking to start a rewarding new chapter, this role offers stability, purpose and real community impact. You will also act as a Passenger Assistant as and when required, supporting SEND children and ensuring they travel to school safely and comfortably.

About you

• Professional Driving Qualification CPC (D) (PCV), or willingness to undertake paid fast‑track CPC and/or PCV training (this will be provided free of charge).
• Ability to confidently use on‑board technology (tablet‑based route and booking system), with full training provided.
• Sat‑nav and map‑reading experience when transporting passengers of varying ages and abilities.
• Ability to meet the required medical standards for driving.
• Emergency first aid training (or willingness to undertake training).
• Driving experience of the type of vehicles within the authority’s fleet.
• Alert and responsive to the needs of children, adults and older passengers.
• Working knowledge of the Highway Code and relevant passenger transport legislation.
• Ability to converse at ease with vulnerable passengers, including those with communication difficulties or complex needs.
• Ability to work a rolling shift pattern including early, day, late and Saturday shifts.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the borough.
• A positive, can‑do attitude with a commitment to delivering excellent service.

To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.

About the Role

As a Driver / Passenger Assistant, you will help deliver a professional, welcoming and reliable transport service as part of the expanding go‑too network. The service is open to everyone and supports a wide range of everyday journeys - including work, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure.

You will take pride in representing Cheshire East Council and the go‑too service, maintaining a professional and positive approach at all times. The role involves using technology to support a modern, flexible transport service and working in line with relevant safety standards, policies and procedures. You may also be required to act as a Passenger Assistant, supporting SEND passengers as part of the service.

Vehicle bases for this role are located in Middlewich and Macclesfield, with operations covering the entire borough.

This is just a snapshot of some of the exciting things you’ll be doing in role. To find out more about the other key responsibilities of the role please view the attached job description.

In return we are able to offer:

• Enhanced annual leave- Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave –Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro‑rata for part‑time staff)
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme- Drive green and save green! Lease a brand‑new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme. There’s no credit checks, no deposits, just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three‑year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme -Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big‑ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension-Secure your future with our career average pension, where contributions are built at a rate of 1/49th of your yearly pensionable pay
• Cycle to work scheme -Save up to 25‑39% on the retail price of bikes and safety equipment through Income Tax and National Insurance savings. Get fit and save money!
• Employee assistance programme- Access a completely free and confidential assistance service to help manage, reduce, and overcome life’s challenges, both at work and in your personal life
• Discounted gym membership -Stay active and healthy with corporate membership prices for Everybody Leisure, including:
• Gym, Swim and Group Fitness at all 16 facilities
• Off‑Peak Racket Sports
• Athletics Tracks
• Sauna/Steam/Spa

Join us and experience a workplace that truly values and supports you!

Cheshire East is an amazing place to live and work. As one of the largest employers in the borough, we are able to offer you a wide range of challenging and rewarding career opportunities.

We are working for a brighter future – together and our commitment to you is that our workplace culture will provide a shared purpose, a well‑led organisation with valued people succeeding together as one team and one council to deliver the best service for our customers and communities.

If you want to be part of our award‑winning council and contribute to our ongoing success, have the flexibility and drive to enable us to innovate, are committed to working as part of a team and striving to deliver exceptional service wherever you can, we would especially like to hear from you.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our local communities so that we can all work for a brighter future - together.

If you’d prefer an informal chat first or have any questions about the role, feel free to contact Stuart Cann or Mark Povall at:

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

(Available Tuesday - Friday)

Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

(Available Monday – Friday)

Applicants should ensure all sections of the application form are completed as failure to do so will result in their application being rejected. Please ensure you check the email account (including junk/spam boxes) from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date then it is likely that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion, however, please do not be discouraged from applying again.

For any technical enquiries please email [e-mail]

Please quote job reference number in all correspondence.