Ugobus Driver

Essex County Council; Winter Gardens; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 15,000; Part time

Job summary

Essex County Council’s Ugobus driver role is based in Canvey and offers 20 hours per week with a pro rata salary of £14,032 per annum. You will operate accessible minibuses for a diverse passenger group, delivering a reliable community transport service.

You must pass an enhanced DBS check, a minibus driver assessment and mandatory training including MiDAS and First Aid. A current, unrestricted right to work in the UK and a D1 entitlement on your licence are essential.

Qualifications

• Hold a current driving licence with D1 entitlement – essential for driving accessible minibuses.
• Experience working with customers from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to stay calm, flexible and professional under pressure.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills in customer-facing roles.
• Confident using a smartphone or tablet for work tasks.

Responsibilities

• Drive Ugobus minibuses to provide accessible transport for residents and businesses.
• Maintain high standards of safety, customer service and professionalism on all shifts.
• Complete mandatory training including MiDAS and First Aid; participate in DBS checks as required.

Skills

Driving licence with D1 entitlement

Customer service experience

Flexible/adaptable

Clear communication

Smartphone/tablet proficiency

Job description

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you. In March 2026, the Government announced that councils in Greater Essex will be reorganised into five new unitary authorities from April 2028. In addition to this, Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our careers site. Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs. At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone. As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

• Hold a current driving licence with D1 entitlement is essential - this is an essential requirement for driving our accessible minibuses and forms a core part of your suitability for the position.
• Have experience working with customers from a wide range of backgrounds and needs
• Understand the importance of flexibility and can adapt to shifting demands
• Stay calm and professional under pressure
• Are confident using a smartphone or tablet
• Have strong communication and interpersonal skills in customer-facing environments

If successful, you'll complete an enhanced DBS check, pass an ECC minibus driver assessment, and attend mandatory training - including MiDAS and First Aid. Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must have a current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

Ugobus delivers tailored, accessible transport for businesses, residents, and public-sector organisations across Essex. As part of Essex County Council, we're proud to provide a friendly, reliable and community-focused service using our modern fleet of minibuses. We are looking to recruit dedicated and thoughtful individuals to join our team of Ugobus Drivers based in Canvey. We are currently recruiting for the following hours.

• 20 hours per week - the pro rata salary will be £14,032 per annum

Why You'll Love Working with Us

Our drivers make a real difference every day. You'll be supporting a diverse range of passengers - from students and young people to older adults and individuals with disabilities or special educational needs. Compassion, professionalism, and a positive outlook are at the heart of the role. "It's the variety of meeting different people and you do get to touch on their lives" - Tony, Ugobus Driver

If you want to know more, watch our video to see what makes UGO Bus more than just a journey: UGO Bus - more than just a journey

Shift Pattern

All Ugobus drivers work to a split-shift pattern, so flexibility and an understanding of this schedule is crucial. A typical split shift might include:

• Morning: 7.30am - 10.00am
• Afternoon: 2.30pm - 5.00pm