Trainee Bus Driver

Arriva; Greater London; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

8 bank holidays

Free TfL travel for you and one proxy

Company pension

Cycle to Work Scheme

Employee discounts

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Arriva London is recruiting trainee bus drivers for full-time roles across London. No experience is required as we provide full paid training, a dedicated driving school, and a structured development path. You will learn to drive safely, deliver excellent customer service, and contribute to keeping London moving.

The role offers clear pay progression, overtime opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package as you train and qualify to become a full Bus Driver.

Qualifications

• To apply, you must be at least 18 years old
• Hold a full UK driving licence for at least 6 months
• No more than 6 penalty points on your licence
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including weekends
• Be prepared to complete a medical assessment including drug and alcohol testing

Responsibilities

• Receive full paid training to become a Bus Driver
• Attend the dedicated driving school and coaching sessions
• Engage with customers professionally and safely while driving
• Work as part of a team to meet service targets and schedules
• Progress through a structured training and development programme

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Flexibility

Reliability

Job description

Trainee Bus Driver – Arriva London

No Experience? We'll Train You.

Looking for a new career with full paid training, great benefits, and real opportunities to progress?

At Arriva London, we believe great bus drivers are made, not born. If you're reliable, enjoy helping people, and are ready to learn something new, we'll provide all the training and support you need to become a fully qualified Bus Driver.

Every day you'll play an important role in keeping London moving, helping thousands of people travel safely to work, school, appointments, and home.

Why Join Arriva London?

As one of London's largest and most trusted bus operators, we transport almost 300 million passengers every year across more than 50 million miles.

We're investing in the future too, with a commitment to fully electrify our fleet by 2030 creating exciting career opportunities for people who want to make a difference.

When you join Arriva, you're not just starting a job—you're building a long-term career.

Full Paid Training

No previous bus driving experience is required.

From day one you'll receive:

• Fully paid professional Bus Driver training
• Expert tuition at our dedicated driving school
• A structured and supportive learning programme
• Ongoing coaching and development after qualification

All you need to bring is:

• A positive attitude
• A willingness to learn
• Reliability and professionalism
• Great customer service skills

We'll take care of the rest.

Pay & Rewards

We believe your commitment should be rewarded.

During training

• £14.80 per hour

Once qualified

• £16.00 per hour

With clear pay progression as you gain experience, plus opportunities to increase your earnings through overtime and unsociable hours.

You could earn up to £20.00 per hour for qualifying overtime.

Overtime is paid at 1.25x for:

• Hours worked after 9:00pm
• Weekend working
• Hours worked beyond your contracted shifts

Benefits

Joining Arriva means enjoying a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Free travel across the TfL network for you and one nominated member of your household
• Company pension scheme
• Access to Arriva Village, offering hundreds of employee discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Monthly £50 safety reward vouchers for outstanding drivers
• Ongoing training and genuine career progression opportunities
• A supportive, inclusive team environment where you'll feel part of a community

What You'll Need

To apply, you'll need:

• To be at least 18 years old
• A full UK driving licence held for a minimum of 6 months
• No more than 6 penalty points on your licence
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including weekends
• To successfully complete a medical assessment, including a drug and alcohol test

Working Hours

This is a full-time role working 38 hours per week on a rotating 5 out of 7-day shift pattern.

Typical start times include:

• Early shifts from 4:00am
• Afternoon shifts from 12:00pm
• Evening shifts from 6:00pm

Your rota will be planned 6-8 weeks in advance, giving you visibility of your schedule.

You’ll be based at one of our garages across London. Visit our careers site to find vacancies near you.

Drive Your Future with Arriva

This is more than learning to drive a bus.

It's an opportunity to build a rewarding career with one of London's leading transport providers, backed by excellent training, competitive pay, outstanding benefits, and genuine opportunities to develop.

If you're ready for a career where every day makes a difference, we'd love to hear from you.