With over 2,500 new drivers since May 2021 and driver applications up by 32% since before the pandemic, Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator is celebrating its diverse range of drivers as part of Bus and Coach Driver Recruitment Week. The campaign has been running all week with the aim of providing myth busting information on the unique backgrounds that make up the driving teams throughout the UK.

Katie Roden, a driver from Stagecoach Highlands is a single mother, who was also a part-time archaeologist traveling across Scotland on various sites before the pandemic.

Katie noticed Stagecoach was advertising for part-time trainee drivers and she joined the team in Inverness, where the flexibility they can offer her allows her to continue to look after her young child whilst also restarting her work as an archaeologist.

Katie said: “I saw that Stagecoach was looking for part-time bus drivers and thought I could try that. I went along for the interview and was really surprised to be offered a position in the training school and they would even work round my family commitments and would allow me work part-time to continue in my archaeologist role when things returned to normal.

“The training I received from all the team was brilliant and my Instructor Mike was very professional and approachable during the training. Becoming a PCV driver was daunting at first as everything was new to me but after a few months I feel I began to settle into the role and I cannot recommend it enough.”

Stagecoach Traffic Manager, Jamie Reid said: “Katie’s story is not only really inspiring in terms of someone from a non-driving background being retrained due to the Covid crisis, but also shows the flexibility we can offer to help people get back into work whilst also having the time to do the things they enjoy.”

In Manchester, driver Dave Wood left his career as a hairdresser to take up a new challenge after over 40 years in the profession. Dave who is 58, started his hairdressing career when he was 16 and worked his way through the ranks to become an area manager for a large chain of salons and has cut the hair of many celebrities. He is about to complete his driver training and will be working from Stockport Depot.

When asked why Dave fancied a career change and what he enjoyed about his new role, he said: “I felt it was time for a change, at 58 years of age my best days in hairdressing were behind me and I wanted something completely different. It was a client of mine that suggested Stagecoach as he’d worked here for several years and really enjoyed it. I looked into what the job had to offer and thought that it sounded really good, and I have to say that working for Stagecoach has surpassed any expectations I had and I’m really looking forward to my new career. Who would have thought it at 58. I should have done it 10 years ago.”

And in Wales, Mihai-Emil Morosanu from Bucharest who works at Aberdare depot has just completed his driver training after a difficult upbringing and many challenges. Mihai-Emil was born into a poor area of the capital city and due to his education had to learn English by watching cartoons. His first job was at a bar but he wanted to learn and move to a new country. After four years of doing various factory work he then passed his LGV test to become a lorry driver which he enjoyed. With this experience under his belt, he then decided to work for Stagecoach, giving him the opportunity to do a job he loved whilst also meeting new people each day and helping connect local communities.

Mihai-Emil said “I’m really enjoying working for Stagecoach. It is a great opportunity and a good company to work for. I’m looking forward to a long and successful career here at Stagecoach in Aberdare.”

The operator is also celebrating the diverse background of other new drivers across the country who have recently joined the business including a mum to 17 children, commercial pilots, police officers and even a circus ringmaster.