Women invited to drive a bus at Translink ‘Have A Go Days’

With the aim of increasing the number of women applying for driver jobs on Metro, Glider and Ulsterbus, Translink are organising  ‘Have A Go Days’ with the opportunity to drive a bus and find out more about a career as a bus driver.

Over 100 women will have the opportunity to take part in the ‘Have A Go Day’ sessions that will take place on April 10 – 12 at Nutt’s Corner Circuit, Crumlin. Each session will provide women with practical experience of driving a bus, presentations from female Translink employees and useful advice on the recruitment process.

Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said “We want to encourage more women to become bus drivers and reduce any misconceptions out there that it’s a male-only career. At Translink, we’ve over 150 female bus drivers and nearly 100 of them have been with the company for over 10 years."

Speaking about her career as a Translink bus driver Clare McGowan commented “Bus driving isn’t something I’d say was always in my career plan but now it’s happened I love it! It never gets boring and every day brings new experiences; it can certainly be an entertaining job too with the mix of customers and colleagues you engage with making shifts fly by.

“Translink is a large organisation and there are lots of opportunities for career progression and job stability both of which are important to me. I suppose I’m also breaking stereotypes that bus driving is a male occupation - there’s no aspect of the job that women can’t deliver. All the buses are very modern and easy to drive with power-steering – I actually find it easier to reverse a bus than a car!"

Bus Driver job applicants must be aged 21 and over, have a full car driving license with a minimum of two years driving experience since obtaining it. Both Full-Time and Part-Time positions are available. Booking is essential to secure a Translink Have A Go Day session - call 028 9027 7880 or emailaine.magennis@translink.co.uk.

A free Have A Go Day shuttle bus service will be available from Europa Buscentre to and from the event venue. For further information click www.translink.co.uk/haveago/