UK Bus Operations
Jon Croxford - UK Bus Operations Graduate
I entered the First Group graduate scheme in September 2008 as an operations trainee within the UK Bus division.
UK Bus is divided geographically into a number of operating companies, my first twelve months being spent with 'First Hampshire & Dorset'. The purpose of the initial placement is to gain a basic understanding of every aspect of the business through shadowing and undertaking work within each department, alongside medium-term project work and external training courses.
Departments I spent time with included Finance, Commercial, Health & Safety, Human Resources and Training.
I acted as Staff Manager at Hoeford depot for three months, responsible for 230 drivers; this role involved conducting disciplinary inquiries and incident investigations, handling customer complaints, recruiting drivers, carrying out risk assessments, managing attendance and driving standards, and a range of other duties and responsibilities associated with front-line management. A real eye-opener for a mild-mannered historian, but genuinely exciting and interesting; every day is completely different with new challenges being presented, and above all else, you are dealing with people constantly.
The industry isn't really about buses (although we wouldn't get far without them either!) - it's about drivers and passengers and supervisors and engineers and... well, like I say, people. And there are a lot of them.
In September this year I started my final six months on the scheme, which has involved a change of operating companies - I am now with Yorkshire West & North.
The scheme is varied, challenging and fun, and I've enjoyed every minute.
First is the biggest transport company in the world, and if its people management you're after then this is the place for you. But, of course, the thing that really impresses your friends if you enter the UK Bus Division as a graduate is... you learn how to drive a bus! Other external qualifications First have funded such as IOSH 'Managing Safety' and CPC for Bus Operators have been interesting, relevant and rewarding, but your friends won't know what they are. They know what a PCV driving licence is when they see you pull up in a 12 metre coach with a smug grin on your face. Driving buses - it's the future!