First Bus has started a training programme to combat driver shortages in the transport sector.

Realise, which delivers apprenticeships and adult education programmes in England, has partnered with First Bus to develop a dedicated course in customer service skills and driving theory to offer hard-to-reach groups and unemployed people in West Yorkshire the chance to start a career with the bus operator.

Funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the new training programme has been designed to teach learners the skills and behaviours required to succeed in the transport industry.

Those who wish to apply for the course must be aged 18 or over and have a clean diving licence, or one with no more than six points. Those who are successful will gain a Passenger Carrying Vehicle licence.

Tom Bridge, operations director of First West Yorkshire, said: “We are seeing a gradual rise in diversity with people from wider backgrounds and with transferable skills joining our workforce and we want this to continue.

“We are confident that working with Realise will be another way to bring more applications for job opportunities as we look to build back driver resource in tandem with growing passenger numbers to pre-pandemic levels.”

“It’s fantastic that 100 per cent of the first cohort were employed by First Group.

“It proves that having devolved powers to allocate funding where it is needed is already having a positive impact on the skills shortages across West Yorkshire.”