A new partnership between Telford College and the transport firm Arriva is offering residents a chance to start a new career with free bus driver training. The three-week programme, which is supported by the Department for Work and Pensions, will take place from 27 April to 15 May 2026.
The training is open to anyone aged 19 or over who is currently unemployed or earning less than the National Minimum Wage. Participants will work toward gaining the Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications necessary to begin a career as a professional bus driver. As part of the course, students will also visit the Arriva depot located on the Stafford Park industrial estate in Telford to gain insight into the daily responsibilities of the role.
A key feature of the initiative is a guaranteed job interview with Arriva for every person who successfully completes the programme. This project follows a previously successful partnership between the college and National Express, which ran a similar training course in the Black Country in 2024.
The training programme comes as the industry works to address a national shortage of drivers. According to the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the United Kingdom is facing a 3.4 percent shortage of bus drivers, which accounts for a national shortfall of more than 4,000 workers.
Individuals interested in joining the upcoming training can find more details by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01952 642554.
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