PC Coaches of Lincoln, one of Lincolnshire’s largest independent coach and bus operators, has launched an initiative with Boston College to recruit drivers in the county through a fully funded category D driving licence training scheme.
The partnership with Boston College was conceived as part of the Lincolnshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) in response to a driver shortage across the county.
It follows an allocation of £2,120,280 for Lincolnshire County Council in the BSIP Plus first-year fund after an initial request to the Department for Transport for £2.2m between 2023 and 2026 to deliver three schemes.
Those include a partnership with Boston College to “develop a bespoke and holistic training academy including PSV drivers and passenger assistants to address shortages in the industry that smaller operators are struggling to address.”
PC Coaches offers placements at its four depots
Steve Bryce, Managing Director of PC Coaches, reveals that the Lincolnshire Enhanced Partnership Board, which works with Boston College and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, secured the funding for the venture. The initiative aims to recruit new drivers, with Boston College providing the training.
Drivers can either be referred to the college by PC Coaches of Lincoln, or they can be placed with the operator through the college.
Applicants are required to hold a full car licence and reside within Lincolnshire, with a guaranteed job offer awaiting them upon completion of their training.
“The training spans six weeks, with practical elements delivered by Boston Large Goods Vehicle Training and theoretical learning conducted at Boston College in its purpose-built logistics building,” says Mr Bryce.
Beyond practical driving skills, the course also offers IT and customer service qualifications, making it a comprehensive training programme. Placements are at one of the operator’s four depots in Louth, Horncastle, Grimsby, or Lincoln.
“We’re trying to recruit people from local depots who fit the criteria. There are no limitations as long as the applicants meet the initial interview requirements,” Mr Bryce adds.
Positive reception to initiative, reports PC Coaches MD
The initiative was received with enthusiasm during an information day held on 24 May, and Mr Bryce says the initiative aligns perfectly with the company’s broader vision. “It is providing opportunities for local people which in turn contributes to the local economy,” he explains.
The program is a first for PC Coaches, and its long-term impact on the coach and bus industry, especially in Lincolnshire, is anticipated to be significant. Mr Bryce expresses his hope that the program will help overcome current staff resource difficulties, stating that recruitment “is a big barrier at the moment.”
As part of the company’s commitment to career progression, newly trained bus drivers are also offered the opportunity to transition into coach driving roles. As well as providing local bus services and demand responsive transport through its Call Connect contract operated in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, PC Coaches operates school transport, and runs a programme of holidays and day trips.
“We try to bring people in as bus drivers and then progress them through to coach drivers through our internal program,” says Mr Bryce. “We slowly move them from being a bus driver onto doing private hires, feeders, generally working their way up.”
A blueprint for category D training elsewhere?
The initiative between PC Coaches and Boston College serves as a blueprint solution to the high demand for professionally licenced PSV drivers in the UK.
Mr Bryce highlights the potential of the training program in progressing young individuals like Liam Hutson (pictured, top), a 22-year-old driver based at the operator’s Louth depot, initially employed for the company’s Call Connect contract.
“The training programme with Boston College is particularly useful in upskilling young people like Liam who we initially employ as eight-seater minibus drivers on our Call Connect contract that we operate on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council,” says Mr Bryce.
“Then they have the opportunity to progress through our company on different work, which eventually could lead to them driving our executive coaches throughout the UK and Europe.”
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