Trainee Bus Driver

First South West Ltd; Taunton; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Simply Health & Smart Health

Free bus pass

Discounted train travel for family

Pension scheme

Up to 5 weeks holiday

Job summary

First Bus in Taunton is hiring a Trainee Bus Driver. No prior bus driving experience needed; full UK licence and Positive attitude required. Fully paid training helps you become a qualified driver.

This permanent role offers guaranteed contracted hours, structured rotas, and opportunities for overtime to boost earnings. Training starts at £14.10/hour, rising to £15.10/hour when qualified.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence held for at least 6 months.
• Maximum of 6 penalty points.
• Minimum age of 18.
• Right to work in the UK.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Flexible approach to shift work.
• No PCV licence is required, full training is provided.

Responsibilities

• Operate local bus services across Taunton and surrounding areas.
• Maintain safety, professionalism and reliability in service delivery.
• Deliver a safe and comfortable journey experience for passengers.
• Work a rota with early mornings, evenings and weekends, schedules provided in advance.

Skills

Strong communication

Customer service

Flexible shift work

No PCV licence required

Job description

About First Bus

Are you ready to advance your career with one of the UK's leading bus operators? Join a forward-thinking company that embraces cutting-edge bus technology, from innovative mobile apps to environmentally friendly vehicles. We are passionate about delivering passenger journeys that are sustainable, comfortable, and efficient. We are at the forefront of innovation in the industry, connecting communities and shaping the future of public transport.

Trainee Bus Driver – Taunton £14.10 per hour while training, £15.10 per hour once fully qualified

Join our team as a Bus Driver in Taunton. No previous bus driving experience is required. If you hold a full UK driving licence, enjoy helping people, and have a positive, reliable attitude, we'll provide fully paid training to help you become a qualified professional driver. As part of one of the UK's leading bus operators, you'll enjoy job security, excellent employee benefits, and genuine opportunities to progress your career.

What’s in it for you?

You’ll start on £14.10 per hour while training, increasing to £15.10 per hour once fully qualified. This is a permanent role with guaranteed contracted hours and structured rotas planned in advance, giving you more stability and predictability around your working week. You’ll work a variety of shifts across mornings, evenings, and weekends, with weekday time off built into the rota and opportunities for overtime to increase earnings where available.

The Role

You’ll operate local bus services across Taunton and surrounding areas, helping passengers travel to work, education, appointments, shopping, and days out. This is a customer-facing role where safety, professionalism, and reliability are key. You’ll play an important role in keeping Taunton connected while delivering a safe and comfortable journey experience for passengers. Shifts are rota-based and include early mornings, evenings, and weekends, with schedules provided in advance.

What We’re Looking For

• Full UK driving licence held for at least 6 months
• Maximum of 6 penalty points
• Minimum age of 18
• Right to work in the UK
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Flexible approach to shift work
• No PCV licence is required, full training is provided.

Background checks will form part of the recruitment process.

Rewards

• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you!
• This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise.
• Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Free onsite parking + cycle to work scheme
• Up to 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted FirstGroup shares

We are always looking for skilled and talented people to join us across our sixty plus depots from Aberdeen to Truro. It takes a dedicated team of specialists and professionals over just about every type of role you can think of to keep us on the road and creating amazing passenger journeys. We’ve embarked on a journey of major transformation – to make sure we put our people and customers first. Our people are the beating heart of First Bus. Without them, there would be no drivers to take customers to where they need to go and no engineers to keep our buses safely on the road. Our transformation programme is designed to reshape our business to meet tomorrow’s travel needs.