Change your career path with Stagecoach
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By Ellen Bailey
AMBER Beattie is not your stereotypical bus driver but she hopes she can change perceptions and encourage more young people to train to become bus drivers with Stagecoach.
The opportunity to become a Stagecoach bus driver was just the career change the trainee dental nurse had been looking for.
Amber (26) started her career at Stagecoach in 2013 when she was just 20, having never dreamed of a job behind the wheel. "If you had told me 10 years ago that I'd end up being a bus driver, I'd have never believed you!" she said.
When a vacancy for a bus driver in Aberdeen came up, she applied and has never looked back. As a Stagecoach bus driver Amber is assigned different routes and buses daily. The people she meets and places she visits are always changing, so each day can be different.
When asked about her favourite part of the job, Amber said: "I love seeing my daily regulars but it's the different people you meet on each route that makes the job so diverse. There have been some really funny memories with some of my passengers – they often think of us as their tour guide and ask anything and everything about the area! Being out on the road, seeing different places that you maybe wouldn't have visited before is a great part of the job. The day goes so quickly and before I know it, my shift is over."
Although the hustle and bustle of bus life can be busy at times, especially during rush hour, Amber's favourite routes take her through the peaceful Aberdeenshire and Moray countryside. She is often lucky enough to catch the sunrise and sunset in Deeside, as well as admiring the beautiful coastal views from the service 35 route – a real perk of her job.
Not only does Amber enjoy the variety at Stagecoach, the work environment "feels like a family" and she has built many friendships along the way, including meeting her partner, fellow bus driver Nikki Shewan.
Amber said: "There's always someone in the canteen, whatever time of the day, that you can have a gossip with. That's one of the joys of working for a company with so many employees, there is always someone about."
To many people, driving a bus for the first time would seem extremely intimidating but Amber didn't take long to get used to it. Although the first few days of being in the bus were daunting, the 14-tonne vehicle soon became normal to drive.
"I drive different types of coaches and buses on a daily basis," explained Amber. "My driving skills became very adaptable and you get used to it so quickly. Sometimes when I go back to driving my own car I forget that I'm not in a bigger vehicle."
Becoming a bus driver is a great career for anyone who enjoys meeting people and although you are driving something much bigger than a car, you can enjoy a sense of freedom and a driving experience that you couldn't get in another job.
On completing the fully paid training programme, successful applicants will get a salary of up to £21,000 a year with optional overtime. As an employee with the UK-wide bus operator, there is also the opportunity to progress to various supervisory or management roles in the company.
If you enjoy driving and meeting new people, this could be the job for you. All you need to get started is a driving licence. You'll be part of a friendly, dedicated team driving buses in Stagecoach's local network and providing vital transport links throughout Aberdeenshire, Moray or the Highlands.
There are currently bus driver vacancies in Aberdeen, Peterhead, Inverness, Portree and Kirkwall. Apply online at www.stagecoachbus.com/careers
