Experienced Bus Driver
First Bus
From £17.75 per hour
First Bus, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AR, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Pays all ages fairly
- Proper training
- Proper breaks
About First Bus
First Bus is a bus operator. Their routes can be found across the UK.
Job description from First Bus
£17.75per hour (£34,580 per annum)
Chelmsford
Essex
38 hours per week - 5 days per week (Monday - Sunday)
(Hours assigned in advance on a shift / rota basis)
When it comes to serving your community, we're First.
Why join First Bus?
At First Bus, we're changing the game in public transport - starting with our people. With big investments in zero-emission fleets, better tech, and new routes, now's the perfect time to join a growing business that values teamwork, work-life balance, and community impact. We're proud to offer flexible working, fair pay, and a place where you'll always feel like part of the family.
The Role
We're looking for experienced PCV drivers to join our Chelmsford depot. You'll provide safe, reliable, friendly service to our customers, helping them get where they need to be. This is more than just driving - it's about being the face of First Bus and keeping your local community moving.
What's in it for you?
• Competitive Pay
• Free Bus travel for you & your family
• Discounted train travel on various services.
• First Xclusives: 3,000+ retail discounts
• Health support, pension, and wellbeing benefits
• Structured onboarding and mentoring
• Opportunity to grow into team leader, controller or instructor roles
What You'll Need
• PCV licence
• Full UK driving licence with no more than 6 points
• A positive, customer-focused attitude
• Reliability and ability to work independently
• Eligibility to work in the UK
Ready to drive your future forward?. Apply now and lets get you started on a new path - We will be in touch once we receive your application.
Diversity drives us forward. At First Bus, we're building teams that reflect the people and places we proudly serve.
Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.
What employees say
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do First Bus pay drivers enough to live on?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
99% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 102 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £13.45 per hour, and £14.80 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do First Bus pay drivers market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
49% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 108 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Good
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Everyone is paid the same, whatever their age
Do drivers at First Bus get paid the same regardless of age?
Yes, people under the age of 21 get paid the same as those above 21.
See what First Bus pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 21s is the same as those above 21.Based on data from 125 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and July 2026.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do drivers at First Bus get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
95% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 75 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do First Bus pay drivers sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
81% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 94 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
At a minimum, everyone is entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from the government. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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The job sometimes spills into unpaid time
Do drivers jobs at First Bus spill into time they aren’t paid for?
Sometimes. The job can spill into unpaid time.
How we know this
59% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 66 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do drivers get of their shift pattern at First Bus?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 13% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 40% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 35% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 12% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do drivers at First Bus worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
81% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 69 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get any choice of shifts
Do drivers at First Bus get to choose the shifts they work?
Most people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
71% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 68 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for drivers at First Bus to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
61% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 100 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Okay
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Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it for drivers to book a holiday at First Bus?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
57% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 95 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do First Bus managers change drivers shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
41% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 64 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it for drivers to take sick leave at First Bus?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
40% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 90 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Okay
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Only some students say it’s good
Is drivers at First Bus job good for students?
Only some students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
50% of students report this isn’t a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 6 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2024 and November 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.
Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.
Needs improving
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Most parents say it’s bad
Is working as drivers at First Bus good if you have caring responsibilities?
Most parents and carer say this is a bad place to work.
How we know this
83% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.Based on data from 40 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Okay
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Only some people feel treated with respect
Do drivers at First Bus feel treated with respect by their managers?
Some people don’t feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
47% of people say they’re not treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 90 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do drivers at First Bus get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
85% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 75 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful for drivers to work at First Bus?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
68% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 72 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2025 and April 2026.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do drivers at First Bus enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
68% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 91 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do drivers at First Bus recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
60% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 109 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do drivers get enough training when they start at First Bus?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
82% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 104 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get support to progress
Are drivers given support to progress at First Bus?
Most people aren’t given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 72% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 89 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do drivers think First Bus head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
92% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 100 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do drivers feel well informed about how First Bus is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
53% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 93 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What First Bus employees say about their job
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Best thing
The pay
Worst thing
The new drivers usually take the most challenging route ( the one that no one want to do it)
Report this reviewEmployee at First Bus, July 2026
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Best thing
Freedom to work by yourself
Worst thing
Other staff for failing to carry out their jobs
Report this reviewBus driver at First Bus, April 2026
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