Arriva Group
Trainee Bus Driver
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Trainee Bus Driver – Arriva London
No Experience? We'll Train You.
Looking for a new career with full paid training, great benefits, and real opportunities to progress?
At Arriva London, we believe great bus drivers are made, not born. If you're reliable, enjoy helping people, and are ready to learn something new, we'll provide all the training and support you need to become a fully qualified Bus Driver.
Every day you'll play an important role in keeping London moving, helping thousands of people travel safely to work, school, appointments, and home.
Why Join Arriva London?
As one of London's largest and most trusted bus operators, we transport almost 300 million passengers every year across more than 50 million miles.
We're investing in the future too, with a commitment to fully electrify our fleet by 2030—creating exciting career opportunities for people who want to make a difference.
When you join Arriva, you're not just starting a job—you're building a long-term career.
Full Paid Training
No Previous Bus Driving Experience Is Required.
From day one you'll receive:
- Fully paid professional Bus Driver training
- Expert tuition at our dedicated driving school
- A structured and supportive learning programme
- Ongoing coaching and development after qualification
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
All You Need To Bring Is
- A positive attitude
- A willingness to learn
- Reliability and professionalism
- Great customer service skills
We'll take care of the rest.
Pay & Rewards
We believe your commitment should be rewarded.
During training
- £14.80 per hour
Once qualified
- £16.00 per hour
With clear pay progression as you gain experience, plus opportunities to increase your earnings through overtime and unsociable hours.
You could earn up to £20.00 per hour for qualifying overtime.
Overtime Is Paid At 1.25x For
- Hours worked after 9:00pm
- Weekend working
- Hours worked beyond your contracted shifts
Benefits
Joining Arriva means enjoying a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
- Free travel across the TfL network for you and one nominated member of your household
- Company pension scheme
- Access to Arriva Village, offering hundreds of employee discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Monthly £50 safety reward vouchers for outstanding drivers
- Ongoing training and genuine career progression opportunities
- A supportive, inclusive team environment where you'll feel part of a community
What You'll Need
To Apply, You'll Need
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
- To be at least 18 years old
- A full UK driving licence held for a minimum of 6 months
- No more than 6 penalty points on your licence
- Excellent customer service and communication skills
- Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including weekends
- To successfully complete a medical assessment, including a drug and alcohol test
Working Hours
This is a full-time role working 38 hours per week on a rotating 5 out of 7-day shift pattern.
Typical Start Times Include
- Early shifts from 4:00am
- Afternoon shifts from 12:00pm
- Evening shifts from 6:00pm
Your rota will be planned 6–8 weeks in advance, giving you visibility of your schedule.
You'll be based at one of our garages across London. Visit our careers site to find vacancies near you.
Drive Your Future with Arriva
This is more than learning to drive a bus.
It's an opportunity to build a rewarding career with one of London's leading transport providers, backed by excellent training, competitive pay, outstanding benefits, and genuine opportunities to develop.
If you're ready for a career where every day makes a difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today and start your journey towards becoming a qualified Bus Driver with Arriva London.
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