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 new career? No experience? No problem.
At Arriva London, we believe great bus drivers aren't born—they're trained. If you've got a positive attitude, enjoy working with people and are ready to learn, we'll provide all the training and support you need to become a fully qualified Bus Driver.
From day one, you'll receive fully paid training at our dedicated driving school, learning from experienced instructors who'll support you every step of the way. Once qualified, you'll play a vital role in keeping London moving—helping people get to work, school, appointments and home safely every day.
This isn't just a job—it's the start of a 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 you need to succeed.
Your training includes:
- Fully paid Bus Driver training
- Expert tuition at our dedicated driving school
- A structured and supportive learning programme
- Ongoing development and coaching after you qualify
- Support from experienced colleagues throughout your journey
All you need to bring is motivation, reliability and a commitment to delivering excellent customer service.
Your Pay Package
- £14.80 per hour during training
- £16.00 per hour once qualified
- Clear pay progression as you build your experience
- Earn up to £20.00 per hour through overtime and unsociable hours payments
Overtime is paid at enhanced rates for:
- Hours worked after 9:00pm
- Weekend working
- Hours worked above your contracted shifts
Benefits
As an Arriva colleague, you'll enjoy:
- Free travel on TfL and Arriva bus services for you and one nominated household member
- 25 days annual leave plus 8 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 and Management
- A supportive team where you'll be valued from day one
Working Pattern
- Full-time – 38 hours per week
- Rotating 5 days out of 7 shift pattern
- Shifts planned 6–8 weeks in advance
Typical shift start times include:
- 🌅 Mornings from 4:00am
- ☀️ Afternoons from 12:00pm
- 🌙 Evenings from 6:00pm
Regular overtime opportunities are available depending on business needs.
Please note: Fixed shift patterns (such as permanent mornings or evenings) are not available.
What You'll Need
To join Arriva London 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 weekends and a variety of shift patterns
- To successfully pass a drug and alcohol screening as part of the recruitment process
Build a Career That Moves You
At Arriva, we don't just recruit bus drivers—we develop careers. Many of our instructors, supervisors and operational managers started exactly where you are today.
If you're looking for a secure career with great benefits, paid training and opportunities to progress, we'd love to hear from you.
