Meet Kraish Symes – at just 18 years of age, he’s become the youngest ever qualified bus driver to take the wheel for Transdev in Yorkshire, UK.
Kraish has left behind his day job behind the till for a new career on the road with Transdev – and for him, it’s the job he always wanted to do.
I’m enjoying every single minute. Every day is different, and the best part of it is making someone’s day with a smile or a quick chat when they get on my bus. I’d worked in a discount store for almost two years when I decided to make this change into bus driving, and I’ve never looked back since. I enjoy driving, plus the customer service skills I learned behind the till are helping me now to look after people on my bus. I’m usually on the Otley Dash route – we’re the local bus in and around Otley and already I’m getting to know my regular customers every day. The people I meet are all happy and friendly and I’m just glad to be here for them. This is the job I always wanted to do.
Kraish Symes, bus driver
Kraish, who lives in Bradford, qualified as a bus driver at the Transdev Academy, under the watchful eye of instructor Barry Dean – who shares the young newcomer’s pride as Kraish is his first successful pupil since he recently began sharing his many years of on-the-road experience with trainee drivers.
Barry is a brilliant instructor and has helped me make it to where I am today. “I’d have qualified even sooner, but we had to wait three times longer than usual to get my licenses and test date set up through the DVSA.
Kraish Symes, bus driver
Transdev’s youngest ever bus driver is now part of the team at The Keighley Bus Company, where General Manager Alan Isherwood is hoping to welcome more newcomers ready to follow Kraish’s journey to a new career.
There’s no better time than now to join us. Kraish did it – and so can you! Our drivers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they all have one thing in common – they all care passionately about giving amazing customer service.
Alan Isherwood,General Manager
New recruits to Transdev’s UK team are fully supported throughout their journey to success by a specially trained mentor, giving guidance on route learning, vehicle familiarization, ticket machines and more. Transdev’s package of benefits is one of the most generous in the bus industry, including:
- Free travel for you and your partner on all Transdev buses, plus many more across the North of England.
- Subsidized gym membership and discounts at many high street shops and major supermarkets.
- Rewards and awards for best performers, including at Transdev’s annual company-wide Amazing Awards and Transdev Honors.
- Opportunities to progress within the organization through Transdev’s ‘Step Up’ talent development program.
- A generous company pension scheme, with life cover at 2x basic salary.
- Working a guaranteed 39-hour week, with a starting salary of £9.26 per hour, rising to £10.02 after six months – earnings worth up to £24,000 per year.
Details of all vacancies can be found on the careers page of each of Transdev’s bus operating companies in the UK, online at: https://www.transdevbus.co.uk, by emailing: [email protected] or by calling Transdev’s recruitment hotline on +44 (0)1423 884633.