About this Trainee Bus Driver role at Arriva
Trainee Bus Driver
No Experience Needed – Full Paid Training Provided
Start Your Journey with Arriva London
Looking for a career change? Want a stable job with great benefits and real career progression?
At Arriva London, we believe great bus drivers are made, not born. If you've got a positive attitude, enjoy working with people and are willing to learn, we'll give you everything you need to become a qualified Bus Driver.
From day one, you'll receive fully paid training at our dedicated driving school, expert support from experienced instructors, and ongoing development once you're out on the road.
Every day you'll help thousands of people get where they need to be—whether that's work, school, hospital appointments or seeing loved ones. You'll be making a real difference while building a secure, long-term career.
Why Choose Arriva London?
As one of London's largest and most respected bus operators, we transport nearly 300 million passengers every year and cover more than 50 million miles across the capital.
We're also investing in the future, with a commitment to operate a fully electric fleet by 2030. Join us and be part of the next generation of public transport.
We'll Train You
You don't need previous bus driving experience—we'll teach you everything.
Your training includes:
- Fully paid PCV licence training
- Expert tuition at our dedicated driving school
- A structured and supportive learning programme
- Ongoing coaching and development after you qualify
- Support from experienced colleagues every step of the way
All you need is the motivation to learn, a positive attitude and the commitment to provide excellent customer service.
Pay & Progression
Your salary grows as your experience does.
- £14.80 per hour during training
- £16.91 per hour once qualified (up to 2 years' service)
- £17.64 per hour after 25–48 months' service
- £18.04 per hour after 49 months' service
You'll also have the opportunity to earn up to £20.00 per hour through overtime and unsociable hours payments.
Benefits
When you join Arriva, you'll enjoy a great range of benefits, including:
- Free travel on TfL and Arriva bus services for you and one nominated household member
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Company pension scheme
- Access to Arriva Village with exclusive discounts and offers
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Road Safety Reward Scheme – earn £50 vouchers for safe, high-performance driving
- Ongoing CPC training
- Career progression into Training, Operations, Engineering and Management
- A supportive team environment where you'll be valued from day one
Working Pattern
You'll work a rotating pattern of 5 days on, 2 days off, averaging 38 hours per week.
Shifts are planned 6–8 weeks in advance, giving you plenty of notice to organise your personal life.
Typical shift start times include:
- 🌅 Mornings from 4:00am
- ☀️ Afternoons from 12:00pm
- 🌙 Evenings from 6:00pm
Overtime opportunities are available depending on business needs.
Please note: Fixed shifts (such as permanent mornings or evenings) are not available.
What You'll Need
To apply you'll need:
- To be 18 years of age or over
- A full UK driving licence held for at least 6 months
- No more than 6 penalty points
- A positive attitude and excellent customer service skills
- Flexibility to work a variety of shifts, including weekends
- To successfully pass a drug and alcohol screening as part of the recruitment process
A Career That Goes Further
Many of our managers, instructors and operational leaders started their careers as Trainee Bus Drivers.
Whether you're looking for a fresh start, long-term job security or the chance to build a rewarding career, Arriva gives you the training and support to succeed.
