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BBC’s Richard Moss gets in the driving seat as Go North East looks to fill bus driving vacancies

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BBC’s Richard Moss gets in the driving seat as Go North East looks to fill bus driving vacancies

Earlier this month, BBC’s Richard Moss visited Go North East and got behind the driving wheel to see exactly what it’s like to drive a bus and to find out more about the recent staff shortages.

In recent times, companies across various industries have struggled with shortages, ranging from hospitality to social care, which is impacting on the services that can be delivered.

In Go North East’s case, and the wider transport industry, this has resulted in cancellations of some journeys, which the company has been communicating ahead of each day to keep its customer updated as best it can.

Richard Moss’ visit, which featured on BBC Look North and Politics North (North East and Cumbria), saw him get in the driving seat where he was expertly guided by Kayleigh Hind, one of Go North East’s bus driving instructors.

The region’s largest bus company is doing everything it can to get its driving vacancies filled, with 75 bus driving jobs on offer.

There are a number of depots across the North East, with bus drivers based at Chester-le-Street, Consett, Gateshead, Hexham, Percy Main, Peterlee, Sunderland and Washington.

Go North East’s award-winning driver training academy can have people on the road fully trained within a month.

A starting salary of £21,000 a year is provided and there are plenty of opportunities for overtime, with some drivers earning up to £35,000 a year.

A minimum of 12 months car driving experience is required, and applications are also welcomed from those who already hold a PCV licence.

The job comes with a range of benefits, including free travel for you and heavily discounted travel for your family, as well as the ability to save up to 5% at supermarkets and up to 10% at high street retailers.

If you would like to see more of Richard’s visit you can catch up on BBC iPlayer at bbc.in/3oTNlBu (from 15 mins 50 secs), and to find out more about applying to be a bus driver head to www.gonortheast.co.uk/bus-driver.

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On the Go since 1913

Around 175,000 journeys are made on Go North East bus services every day to travel around this wonderful region. Travelling to work or education, to visit friends and family, to have a night out, or to visit one of the region's many tourist and leisure attractions.

For over 100 years, Go North East has connected the region's towns and villages with the cities of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland and currently operates across Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and into Tees Valley.

Employing over 2,000 local people, with a fleet of almost 700 buses and coaches and an annual turnover of £100m, the company is the regional subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group plc, one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport.

Go North East

117 Queen Street
NE8 2UA Gateshead