Arriva Group
Trainee Bus Driver
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Trainee Bus Driver – £14.50 - £20.19 per hour
Location: Milton Keynes Depot
Start your bus driving career with Arriva at our Milton Keynes depot—where you’ll be at the heart of your community! Whether assisting commuters to work, helping customers with shopping trips, or safely transporting children to school, you’ll play a vital role in connecting people to what matters most.
As a Bus Driver, you’ll build relationships with familiar faces on your routes and make a real difference—making someone’s day extra special. Did you know Bus Drivers are among the most thanked professions in the UK? Here at Arriva, we take pride in our customer service excellence and community impact—and we’d love to welcome you into our team.
About the Role
- Job Title: Trainee Bus Driver
- Location: Milton Keynes Depot (with training at Luton Depot)
- Start Date: Flexible (specifics determined post-application)
- Pay Rate:
- During Training (4-6 weeks): £14.50 per hour
- Post-Training Base Rate: £14.50 (during training), rising to £18.35 per hour once driving solo
- Overtime Rates: £15.70 (during training) → £20.19 per hour (post-training)
- Pay reviews conducted regularly via negotiations.
What’s in It for You?
✅ Fully funded training – Receive your PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence with our Arriva Training School
- Training typically lasts 4 weeks, starting with 3-5 days at Luton Depot, followed by Milton Keynes-based instruction.
- Guided by a mentor for further on-the-job support.
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✅ Overtime opportunities – Additional shifts, bank holidays at premium rates (major financial incentive)
✅ Career growth and development –
- Pathways into management, training roles, or advanced driver positions
- Ongoing CPC (Driver CPC) training (mandatory every 5 years)
✅ Support for work-life balance –
- Access to the Mydrive app, where top bus drivers in your area earn £50 vouchers monthly.
- Free staff bus route between Leicester and depot (useful for early/late shifts).
- Shuttle service from depot to Milton Keynes.
✅ Benefits – 💙 Arriva Village – Employee discounts and offers 🚍 Free annual rail/coach/bus travel for you and dependents (nomination available) 🏦 Arriva Workplace Pension with enhanced contributions 🏆 Long service awards & quality bonuses 🎁 Ongoing road safety recognition programmes
✅ Inclusion & Community Focus – Arriva strives for diversity and equal opportunity, valuing all team members. As a Bus Driver, you’ll contribute to a safer, more inclusive transport system.
Hours of Work
- 5-day rotating shifts (scheduled 6-8 weeks in advance for planning)
- Shift start times rotate between:
- Mornings: From 04:00
- Afternoons: From 12:00
- Evenings: From 18:00
- No fixed early/morning, afternoon, or evening shifts available separately – all will rotate monthly.
- Overtime available upon request/approval.
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Requirements
To apply, you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Have minimum 6 months’ driving experience¹
- Maintain a driving licence with no more than 6 penalty points
- Pass a drug and alcohol test (mandatory pre-employment)
- Possess strong people and customer service skills
- Show flexibility to work rotating shifts
¹—Plust experienced drivers with clean licences are considered a bonus.
About Arriva
As a global leader in passenger transport, Arriva serves 11 countries across Europe, including the UK, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Croatia, and more. With 34,000+ employees, we operate buses, trains, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing, and on-demand transport solutions—ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable journeys.
Our commitment to driving progress means we’re expanding and seeking skilled, dedicated candidates like you to help us reach our goals.
“Our team grows when you grow with us. That’s why we’re hiring!”
Next Steps
Exciting opportunities await! If this role appeals to your skills or aspirations, apply today and join our thriving team.
For further updates on hiring status and new openings, check our website or apply directly here.
Thanks for your interest in start your career at Arriva—we look forward to connecting with you!
Apply now!
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