First Bus launches campaign to recruit 100 drivers in West of Scotland as operator plans to ramp up service levels
First Bus delivers industry first with new five hour shift option
Scotland’s largest bus operator is launching a campaign to recruit 100 drivers in the West of Scotland as restrictions ease and people migrate back to public transport.
First Bus will is recruiting to meet the growing demand for bus travel as the country moves out of lockdown and looks towards getting life back to normal. It hopes to soon get back to pre-Covid levels of service.
As a result, First Bus is calling on people from all different backgrounds and careers to consider becoming a driver. With no prior experience necessary, candidates will undergo comprehensive training before taking to the roads to transport passengers safely and in comfort. The bus operator is also looking to hire those who already have a licence, who may want to re-join the industry on a part time basis.
In a move which reflects the growing demand for an improved work-life balance, and enables staff to manage ‘out of work’ commitments such as childcare responsibilities or studies, First Bus is offering part-time roles for the first time. In addition to the traditional 38-hour week, part-time roles will cover a 25-hour week, with the ambition to appeal to a wider audience who may not have applied in the past due to other obligations.
Furthermore – and believed to mark an industry first - First Bus is introducing a new five hour shift option, with rotas running from 2-7pm, 3-8pm, 4-9pm and 7pm-midnight to offer a range of times designed to provide the greatest level of flexibility.
The roles will be located at depots across greater Glasgow, namely;
- Caledonia Depot
- Scotstoun Depot
- Blantyre Depot
- Dumbarton Depot, and
- Overton Depot
First Bus is also keen to encourage more applications from women and those from BAME groups, as part of its rigorous Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Programme.
Duncan Cameron, interim managing director for First Bus in Scotland, said: “Following the many challenges brought on by the pandemic, we are now looking forward to a brighter future and to getting back to our normal level of service operation.
“This is a crucial time and we are calling on all those looking for an exciting, customer facing role, thinking about a job change, or starting something new, to consider a career behind the wheel with us. Our recruits will become a vital part in our own journey as we continue to grow and evolve and provide safe, sustainable, value for money public transport services for the future.
“Historically we have only recruited full-time members of staff. We are now looking to tap into and attract potential employees who may care for children or other loved ones during the day but could work in the evenings, as well as students and other candidates who simply want to work part-time. I am confident this more flexible approach will appeal to a wide pool of valuable candidates.”
Since the start of the pandemic, First Bus has been running reduced services in and out of the City, helping key workers to get to and from work and keeping communities connected with essential journeys.
For more information about a career with First Bus, click here.
Notes to editors
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Full time hours cover a 38-hour week, with pay starting at £10.00ph
- Part time hours cover a 25-hour week, with pay starting at £10ph
- Pay increases for those who already have a license to £10.20 in suburban depots and £10.70 in the Glasgow city depot
- Full 12-hour shifts are also available to potential part time staff and involve working a Saturday and/or Sunday
- Benefits include staff travel passes, a company pension and discounted travel on UK First Group train companies
About First Bus
In 2020, First Bus re-invigorated its focus on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), joining forces with an external expert partner to carry out a full ‘EDI health check’ of the business, seeking to understand what the bus company does well and what could be done better.
First Bus is one of the UK’s largest bus operators. Making journeys easier for our customers, we were the first national bus operator to accept contactless card payments across all of our services and our First Bus App is voted ‘best in class’ amongst UK bus operators.
Our most recent investments are in new, state-of-the-art buses across our key networks. We work proactively with our local authority partners, making a positive impact on air quality, tackling congestion and improving customer experience.
We are focused on First Bus becoming a leader in the transition to a low-carbon future and are committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035; we have pledged not to purchase any new diesel buses after December 2022. We also operate the Aircoach network in Ireland. First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.