Trainee Bus Driver

Location: Croydon Bus Depot

Trainee Bus Driver – Arriva LondonNo 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

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:

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.