Ryan FowlerThe Department for Transport and Roads Minister Guy Opperman has launched a consultation aimed at improving job opportunities for young people within the UK’s transport sector.
The initiative seeks to lower the minimum age requirements for bus and coach drivers and expedite the training process for these roles.
Under the current regulations, 18 to 20-year-old bus and coach drivers are restricted to routes up to 50km. The proposed changes would allow them to operate longer journeys, such as from London to Manchester, thereby opening up hundreds of job opportunities across the bus and coach sectors. This adjustment is expected to help alleviate driver shortages and enhance the reliability of bus services, particularly in rural areas where routes tend to be longer.
Guy Opperman highlighted the dual benefits of these proposals: “Being a bus, coach or lorry driver can be an excellent career for young people and these proposals could help get younger talent into transport, encouraging diversity in the sector.”
Additionally, the consultation proposes that prospective bus, coach, and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers can begin theory and off-road training immediately, without waiting for a provisional licence. This change aims to streamline the training process, ensuring new drivers can start working sooner.
The initiative is also backed by industry leaders. Graham Vidler, chief executive of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, expressed support, noting that allowing trainees to commence off-road training sooner will likely increase the number of individuals completing the course and becoming qualified drivers.
Moreover, the proposals are designed to support local economies and family-run businesses. Andrew Scott, director of Stanley Travel, a medium-sized, family-run coach company, said: “We fully welcome these proposals which would remove the entry barriers to the industry, help us run more services to provide customers with greater choice, and open up fantastic careers as a coach driver for young people.”
