A regional bus operators’ association brought operators in Sunderland together recently to promote bus driver vacancies
Go North East, Stagecoach and Arriva joined forces as part of NEbus, the region’s bus operators’ association, to put on a bus driver recruitment event in Sunderland during the Bus and Coach Driver Recruitment Week organised by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).
Following the changes in the labour market affecting many sectors across the country as it emerges from the pandemic, there are now approximately 7,000 driver vacancies in the bus and coach industry, which led the CPT to launch its recruitment week. The campaign ran from 21 and 27 February, as part of its ongoing effort to help raise awareness of driving roles and accelerate recruitment.
On Thursday 24 February, potential candidates were able to go along to the event in Sunderland, where teams from the region’s bus companies were on hand to have a chat about being a bus driver, and guide potential new recruits through the application process. The CPT said that the week provided the opportunity to kickstart conversations about the benefits of being a driver, opportunities for career progression and to challenge myths around the role.
Martijn Gilbert, Chair of NEbus, said: “Bus drivers play a vital role in our community, and public transport is playing an increasingly important role in connecting our communities, reducing congestion on our roads, and improving air quality. We want to encourage people to consider a job as a bus driver. Many people rely on buses to make their day-to-day journeys, as well as for making longer trips. Driving a bus is a job with real purpose and is at the heart of the green agenda too.”
