A new career on the road
A community training programme is offering local people a chance to establish a career on the road in a unique partnership between First West of England and the not-for-profit refugee and community training provider, ACH.
Funded by First, the two-week course for nine participants included customer service coaching, employment skills and interview practice, followed by essential experience in the driving seat at the Lawrence Hill Depot. Of these nine, seven candidates will now go on to complete their official six-week training with First to qualify as bus drivers.
This is the second course that First have run with ACH, after the pilot scheme saw two candidates successfully complete their training and start new jobs driving buses in the city.
Andy Murray, one of the newly qualified drivers said, “The guys from ACH and First have been amazing. The method of a small group helping each other with the preparation and application process was a great experience and helped me, not only overcome my anxious moments with new people, but to also help others.
“I found that there are lots of transferrable skills that I didn't realise would work with a driver role. I cannot recommend the training scheme enough and it’s exciting to now have clear career path goals within First Bus.”
Julia Palmer, Career Advice & Employment Manager at ACH, said: “After seeing two of our candidates start new jobs as First Bus Drivers and a further seven begin their official training, we’re hopeful that our extended programme of courses will help more skilled individuals get the start they need to build a future working for First West of England.
“Partnerships with employers like this are fundamental in creating a stronger link between business and the wider community to help those from more disadvantaged backgrounds access opportunities and experience in a workplace. First West of England staff have helped build a fantastic course programme that gives hope to future candidates who are excited by the prospect of becoming bus drivers in Bristol.”
James Freeman, Managing Director at First West of England said, “By working in partnership with ACH, we can provide more disadvantaged members of the community with a life-changing opportunity to start new careers and build more stable futures in the city. Our pilot scheme gave participants first-hand experience of essential skills needed in a workplace and we’re pleased to now welcome four of these candidates to the team as First bus drivers.
“After a promising success rate, our extended programme of courses with ACH will help more of those in harder to reach communities access the excellent career prospects that our driver training has to offer.”
For more information on how to become a driver with First West of England visit: https://www.firstgroup.com/about-us/careers.
