Driving Forward with TNG and First Bus

TNG, the UK’s leading training and development company, and First Bus Group have joined forces to find Oldham’s newest bus drivers.

First Bus Group, Britain’s largest bus company, have been trying to recruit new drivers, but their high standards mean that recruiting the right people hasn’t always been easy.

TNG have stepped in to make this easier with a two week pre-recruitment course, resulting in a guaranteed interview at the end of the fortnight. The pre-recruitment course is open to anyone on New Deal who holds a full driving licence, with no more than six points.

The course is run by TNG, in conjunction with First Bus Group, and on the course candidates will be introduced to First Bus staff, achieve a Level 1 Health and Safety at work certificate, and develop customer service skills. All candidates are subject to drug and alcohol testing, as well as a full enhanced CRB check, as standard.

Farooq Ahmed, 38, was keen to become a bus driver but was concerned about the interview process. Through the TNG course, Farooq gained skills in cash handling, customer service and health and safety. He worked hard to improve on these skills, and he successfully passed all of the stages of the recruitment process for First Bus Group. He is about to start training for his Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) licence, and is looking forward to being a fully-fledged bus driver.

Farooq said, “I am very excited about the prospect of becoming a bus driver. I enjoy driving, but I will also be meeting new people every day and enjoying that element of it. I can’t wait to get my PCV licence and start.”

Carol Blackwood, Employer Engagement Manager for the Northern Region at TNG said, “This is a really exciting partnership, for TNG and for First Bus. It is an intensive course, but everyone who has been on it says that they have learned so much from it. It is a fantastic opportunity for people who perhaps thought they would like to be a bus driver, but were worried about the interview.”

Steve Hamilton, Training Manager at First Bus Group said, “All of our candidates from TNG have been of a high calibre, which is just what we need. It has been a pleasure to work with TNG and produce such successful results.”