Lothian – one of Edinburgh’s leading transport operators in Edinburgh and the Lothians – has become the first Scottish bus operator to provide new bus drivers with a customised award on completion of their training which is certified and quality assured by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The bus company’s in-house training school, which successfully trained 450 new bus drivers in 2024, develops knowledge, understanding and lays the foundations for a long and rewarding career as a Lothian bus driver. Now, with this new accreditation, trainee drivers will not only be fully prepared to get behind the wheel as a safe, competent bus driver but they will have earned an SCQF Level 6 Customised Award for Driver Training with 10 credits and will receive a record of achievement for their efforts.
Lothian’s award-winning training school teaches new recruits a wide range of skills which go beyond the operation of their vehicle and includes how to work safely in the bus depot, effective communication, customer interaction, and how to deal with unusual/emergency situations.
Willie Hamilton, Operations Director at Lothian, said: “We take great pride in how much we invest in our people to provide them the tools, resources and skills required to not only do their job to a high standard, but to feel a sense of accomplishment in their abilities.
“We’re delighted to now be able to offer trainee drivers this customised award which demonstrates the breadth of their learning and hopefully inspires others to consider a career in the bus sector as a bus driver.”
Theresa McGowan, Regional Manager for Edinburgh and the Lothians at SQA, said: “The qualifications and customised awards that SQA offer enable employers like Lothian to tailor courses to fit their specific needs while maintaining a high standard of training. I’m pleased that trainee Lothian drivers now have the opportunity to obtain a qualification; a great way to recognise and acknowledge their achievements.”
To learn more about a career as a Lothian bus driver, visit https://careers.lothianbuses.com/Department/Drivers