Bus Driver Apprenticeship - Ashton – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

Do you enjoy driving and like the sound of being in a public facing role? Are you driven and excited to learn new skills to become a professional Bus Driver for the Bee Network in Greater Manchester? Here at Metroline Manchester we’re changing how we do public transport for our local communities and by joining our Bus Driver Apprenticeship you can follow the road to success in an environment where you are supported, understood and encouraged to develop professionally and personally.

Wage

£24,898 a year

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Pay: £12.60 in training rising to £13.93 after 2-3 months

Training course

Passenger transport driver - bus and coach or tram (level 2)

Hours

38 hours per week. Shifts to be confirmed at offer stage.

38 hours a week

Start date

Monday 23 June 2025

Duration

1 year 1 month

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

We are offering the unique opportunity to join Metroline Manchester as an Apprentice Bus Driver, completing an enhanced training package over a 13-month period. You will be enrolled onto the Level 2 Passenger Transport Bus Driver Apprenticeship, which we deliver in partnership with industry experts Realise. Don’t worry, you’ll still be on the road driving one of our yellow busses within two months. The apprenticeship provides enhanced training in addition to this, with regular classroom and on-bus sessions to build your knowledge even further.

We are a great career destination as our apprenticeship programme is all about building transferable skills and knowledge which will help you grow and progress within the Transport industry. We want to see how driven and enthusiastic you are, because to really succeed you have to be fully committed and grab every opportunity that comes your way. We see the apprenticeship as a brilliant way to kick start your career and work towards progression into Supervisory and Management positions.

What to expect

As an Apprentice Bus Driver, you will be responsible for the safe transport of passengers on all Metroline’s bus routes. As part of the 13-month apprenticeship, you will obtain your Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence and Drivers Qualification Card within the first 2 months. The apprenticeship will give you a blended training experience, combining practical driver training with educational classroom sessions. During your apprenticeship, you will receive:

Practical on the road training, enabling you to secure your PCV licence (Full Cat D)
The apprenticeship will cover Core Knowledge and Understanding, Safety, Quality, Customer Service and Operating a Passenger Vehicle
Route learning and Vehicle familiarisation
9 classroom sessions delivered by our industry expert partners
On Bus Mentoring
Level 1 qualifications in Maths & English, should you choose to include this option in your pathway

Benefits

Full PCV licence training provided
Excellent rates of pay that rise based on length of service
Free Bus Travel for yourself + 3 (a companion and 2 children OR 3 children)
Free on-site parking
Pension Scheme Contributions
Benefits Hub
Employee Assistance Programme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Free uniform
TOTUM Student Discount

Essential Criteria

For this position, we require all candidates to have held a full valid, and clean UK driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.
Candidates must achieve Entry Level 3 or above in Functional Skills Initial Assessments, to be suitable for the Level 2 apprenticeship.
A positive and professional approach with excellent communication skills to engage and assist our passengers from all walks of life.
We need you to be prepared to work varying shifts including early starts, late finishes and weekends.

Where you'll work

Unit 5 Riverside Works, Clarence Street
Stalybridge
UK
SK15 1QP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

Your training course

Passenger transport driver - bus and coach or tram (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Apply safe working practices and comply with current passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) driving regulations and legislation.
Comply with current company policies and procedures.
Locate and access the vehicle.
Conduct pre-service route planning.
Pre-service vehicle checks, tests and documentation.
Check and maintain cleanliness of the vehicle.
Drive the vehicle applying defensive driving techniques, with consideration of efficiency for sustainability, environmental and economic factors.
Follow procedures to maximise punctuality of service.
Communicate with customers using automated, verbal or other methods regarding delays and interruptions to the service and timing.
Uses destination displays and signage.
Communicates with colleagues, internal and external stakeholders to supports the general operation of services.
Provide assistance for customers to safely embark and disembark the vehicle
Manage customer queries and complaints.
Make scheduled stops on route.
Monitor and respond to instrumentation, signals and instructions.
Identify and diagnose vehicle faults and failures to rectify issues within limits of own authority.
Prepare and submit documents, reports and logs containing performance, incident and technical information.
Changeover the vehicle or take a vehicle out of service.
Pass the responsibility to the control of others.
Record task information (text or data) - paper based or electronic.
Identify, carry out and record industry related continuing professional development (CPD) activities.
Drive a bus or coach
Drive a tram.
Apply safe working practices and comply with current passenger carrying vehicles (PCV) driving regulations and legislation.
Comply with current company policies and procedures.
Locate and access the vehicle.
Conduct pre-service route planning.
Pre-service vehicle checks, tests and documentation.
Check and maintain cleanliness of the vehicle.
Drive the vehicle applying defensive driving techniques, with consideration of efficiency for sustainability, environmental and economic factors.
Follow procedures to maximise punctuality of service.
Communicate with customers using automated, verbal or other methods regarding delays and interruptions to the service and timing.
Uses destination displays and signage.
Communicates with colleagues, internal and external stakeholders to supports the general operation of services.
Provide assistance for customers to safely embark and disembark the vehicle
Manage customer queries and complaints.
Make scheduled stops on route.
Monitor and respond to instrumentation, signals and instructions.
Identify and diagnose vehicle faults and failures to rectify issues within limits of own authority.
Prepare and submit documents, reports and logs containing performance, incident and technical information.
Changeover the vehicle or take a vehicle out of service.
Pass the responsibility to the control of others.
Record task information (text or data) - paper based or electronic.
Identify, carry out and record industry related continuing professional development (CPD) activities.

Your training plan

You will be enrolled onto the Level 2 Passenger Transport Bus Driver Apprenticeship, which we deliver in partnership with industry experts Realise. As part of the 13-month apprenticeship, you will obtain your Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence and Drivers qualification Card within the first 2 months.

The apprenticeship will give you a blended training experience, combining practical driver training with educational classroom sessions. During your apprenticeship, you will receive: Practical on the road training, enabling you to secure your PCV licence Route/Vehicle familiarisation 8 classroom sessions delivered by our industry expert partners (Realise) 10 Maths & English sessions, enabling you to secure a minimum of a Level 1 qualification in both subjects.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

Basic Maths (grade n/a)
Standard English (grade n/a)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Logical
Team working
Non judgemental
Patience

Other requirements

Pay: £12.60 in training rising to £13.93 after 2-3 months

About this company

Metroline Manchester is a recently formed subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, in March 2024 we were awarded contracts to operate four franchises and join the Bee Network in Greater Manchester. Metroline was formed in 1989, 4th largest bus operator in London and has been a part of the largest private land transport company Comfort Del Gro since 2000. We are 6,000 colleagues strong across the UK and help carry over one million of our customers every day.

After this apprenticeship

We see the apprenticeship as a brilliant way to kick start your career and work towards progression into Supervisory and Management positions.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

REALISE LEARNING AND EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000320734.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 20 June 2025

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

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Bus Driver Apprenticeship - Ashton

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