Vocational training

We make a major investment in vocational training in the UK. For example, in our UK bus operations, dedicated development managers support businesses by focusing on basic skills and vocational training. Here are some other ways we are promoting learning and raising skill levels across the group.

Learning centres

We have opened 24 learning centres at Arriva bus depots throughout the UK, with funding support from the Trades Union Congress and the Learning and Skills Council. The centres offer employees opportunities for self development in areas such as Skills for Life and IT.

Each learning centre has up to eight computers, giving access to Learn Direct courses, as well as to the Arriva Learning and Development Gateway – our online training and development resource.

Qualification support

• Over the past five years, more than 2,500 employees have completed NVQ qualifications in our UK regional bus business. One hundred managers have qualified as NVQ assessors at Arriva Trains Wales and we have a further 100 employees who are currently studying for an NVQ.
• All drivers in Arriva London have now gained the BTEC Intermediate Award in 'Delivering Bus Services in London'. All newly recruited bus drivers on Transport for London routes now work towards this qualification.
• A number of our employees have completed a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship qualification in UK Regional Bus and the Modern Apprenticeship (Engineering) programme in Arriva Trains Wales.
• At Arriva Scandinavia, we give our drivers and mechanics advanced training covering areas such as dealing with conflict, service and quality, and computer skills.
• More than 980 Danish and 500 Swedish drivers have participated in customer service training.
• In Italy and Portugal, our vocational training programmes continue to deliver great results. In Portugal, we offer drivers refresher training to adopt better defensive driving techniques, demonstrating the safety, economic and environmental benefits. More than 1,075 drivers have participated in this training.

Arriva across
Europe

View a Flash interactive map of our operations across Europe