More than 100 drivers to be trained to tackle bus driver shortage
More than 100 new bus drivers are being created in the North East thanks to a new training programme which launches this month.
Training provider Realise has been awarded a 12-month contract to deliver its Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) Route to Success programme.
More than 300 people will take part in the training in total, of which 120 will be trained by Realise to secure their PCV licence.
The remaining participants will be supported to secure interviews with local bus operators across the North East, with successful candidates progressing to PCV licence training through the operators’ own driver training schools.
The training is fully funded by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness' new £250m North East Skills Programme and is free of charge to access for residents of Sunderland, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, County Durham, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Northumberland and South Tyneside who are aged 19 and over and hold a standard UK car driving licence.
Mayor Kim said: “Bus drivers keep our region moving.
“That's why we've funded support so more than 100 people get the skills they need to become a bus driver, helping us improve our bus services right across the North East and ensuring people have good jobs at the same time."
The Route to Success programme starts with a four-day course offering an insight into what life as a bus driver entails.
Of the 360 learners scheduled to complete stage one, 120 will then move forward to stage two, undertaking on-road practical training to secure their PCV licence before being supported to secure employment.
Realise director of transport, Kairon Flowers, said: “The Route to Success programme has been hugely successful across multiple areas of England and we are delighted to be creating life-changing career opportunities for local residents as well as protecting vital bus services in the North East.
“There is an ongoing need to recruit new drivers across the country and programmes like Route to Success can play an important role in helping regions build a sustainable pipeline of new talent.
“With the prospect of franchising being implemented in the North East in the next few years, having that strong pipeline of skilled drivers will be increasingly important as the region looks to develop and improve its bus network.
“This programme gives us an opportunity for to build that pipeline while helping local people take their first steps towards a rewarding new career in the bus industry.”