Bus Programme Detail

First UK Bus take great care in ensuring your development is a mixture of on and off job development and enable you to undertake a considerable amount of self directed learning, supported by a comprehensive and on going mentoring and coaching process.

A guide to the professional institutes

There are two professional bodies linked to the SMT schemes. Both have their particular requirements for achieving various levels of membership.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) are both Chartered bodies and all SMTs attached to these professional bodies are expected to work towards Chartered status over the first five years of their career with us.

For Bus operational SMTs it is a compulsory requirement of the scheme that you pass, as a minimum, the national certificate in professional competence (CPC) within three examination attempts.

First have registered the Engineering Scheme with IMechE and are currently seeking full accreditation of the SMT scheme with the CILT.

Follow the links below to the Institute's websites.

Operational and Engineering Learning Plan

All SMTs undertake a comprehensive workplace training schedule. These training programmes are designed to give you maximum exposure to the business during the first eighteen months in the case of operational trainees and two years for engineers. Below is an indicative programme for an operational trainee. For each department you enter there will be comprehensive learning outcomes that you will manage in conjunction with your line managers.

Operational Learning Plan

This table outlines a typical first year of an operational training plan.

Module Description Duration
1a Introduction to First 3 days
1b Training company induction and familiarisation 2 days
2 PCV driver training/driving in service 3 weeks
3 Central commercial and operating functions 5 weeeks
4 Central finance functions 3 weeks
5 Central engineering functions 2 weeks
6 The operating depot 15 weeks
7 Front line supervision - training in responsibility 10 weeks
8 Coach/rail familiarisation 1 week
9 Central management functions and business strategy (including review) 4 weeks
n/a Off the job courses 4 weeks
n/a Holiday 4 weeks
Total   52 weeks

Engineering Learning Plan

This table outlines a typical first year of an engineering learning plan.

Module Description Duration
1a Introduction to First 3 days
1b Training company induction and familiarisation 2 days
2 PCV driver training 2 weeks
3 Central commercial and operating functions 5 weeeks
4 Central finance functions 4 weeks
5 Central engineering functions 4 weeks
6 The operating depot 16 weeks
7 (operations and engineering) Coach operations 2 weeks
8 Central management functions and business strategy (including review) 3 weeks
9 First Group America 2 weeks
10 UK Bus Engineering System (SAP First) 1 week
11 Volvo Sweden 1 week
12 Wright Bus Northern Ireland 1 week
  Rail familiarisation 1 week
  Off the job courses 4 weeks
  Holiday 4 weeks
Total   51 weeks