Trainee Bus Driver

Arriva Group; Royal Tunbridge Wells; On-site; GBP 17,908 - 24,796; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free bus travel for you and family

Pension

Career progression

Paid training

Shuttle service

Staff discounts

Mydrive rewards

Long service awards

Job summary

Arriva Group in Tunbridge Wells is hiring Bus Drivers to serve the local community, with paid training and routes that connect people to work, shops and school.

Starting pay during training is £12.71 per hour, with increases after training; shifts begin early with weekend premiums. Benefits include full training, pension, staff discounts, and opportunities for career progression.

Qualifications

• Must be over 18 years of age.
• Have been driving for a minimum of 6 months.
• No more than 6 points on your licence.
• Can pass a drug and alcohol test.
• Great people and customer service skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts.

Responsibilities

• Drive buses on assigned routes with safety and punctuality.
• Provide helpful, friendly service to passengers and assist with boarding.
• Follow Arriva policies and road regulations while delivering reliable transport services.

Skills

Customer service skills

Reliability

Team player

Job description

£12.71 - £17.87 per hour

Start your bus driving career with Arriva at our Tunbridge Wells depot, where you will be at the heart of your community. Whether it is getting commuters to work, helping customers with popping to the shops or getting children to school, we provide an important service in connecting our customers to what matters to them.

As a Bus Driver, you will get to know the familiar faces on your routes, build relationships and even be the highlight of someone’s day. Did you know that Bus Drivers are one of the most thanked jobs in the UK?

We are proud of our customer service and how we support our community—and we would love to have like‑minded individuals as part of our team.

Rates Of Pay

During Training (the first 4-6 weeks) – £12.71 per hour.

Rates After Training

• Monday to Friday – £12.71 first 9 months, then £16.85 per hour
• Weekends and Overtime – £12.71 first 9 months, then £17.87 per hour

What’s in it for you?

• Full paid training where you'll receive your PCV licence – you'll go through our Arriva Training School and learn everything you need to know about being a Bus Driver. The training generally lasts approximately 4 weeks and will take place at our Northfleet depot before you then work with a mentor for a further few weeks.
• Overtime opportunities – extra shifts, bank holidays, all paid at a premium rate.
• Ongoing CPC training.
• Development and great career opportunities – whether that’s into management, support training, or as an expert driver.
• Working for an inclusive and diverse company that puts our customers at the heart of what we do, and the responsibility of transporting our precious cargo ensuring they get to their destinations.
• Access to the Mydrive app where you can win a £50 voucher monthly for the top 2 Bus Drivers in the area.

Hours Of Work

• 5 out of 7 rotating shift patterns, planned up to 6-8 weeks in advance so you can plan around shifts.
• Mornings starting from 04:00, Afternoons start from 12:00 and Evenings from 18:00 on a rotational basis.
• We cannot offer fixed early, afternoon or evenings separately.
• Overtime available at request / availability.

Requirements

• Must be over 18 years of age.
• Have been driving for a minimum of 6 months.
• No more than 6 points on your licence.
• Can pass a drug and alcohol test.
• Great people and customer service skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts.

Benefits

• Fantastic career progression and training opportunities.
• Free‑to‑use staff bus operates a route around Leicester in the mornings and evenings to get drivers to and from work at those early start times and late finishes.
• Shuttle service from the depot to town to get you to your starting point.
• Access to the 'Arriva Village', where you can take advantage of store discounts and offers.
• Free bus travel for you and your family (within the same household). If you do not need to use it then you can nominate someone else.
• Arriva Workplace Pension.
• Enhanced rates of pay.
• Long service awards.
• Access to the Mydrive app and road safety scheme where you can get rewarded a £50 voucher monthly for being the top Arriva driver.

This is an excellent time to start your journey with us, with paid training through our Arriva training school, and rates increasing across the area.

At Arriva we strive for inclusion and diversity, we are a community that brings everyone together…not just our passengers.