What's it like to work for Stagecoach Scotland

[heart-of-wessex]

Hello all,

Has anyone worked for Stagecoach in Scotland before in the Aberdeen area? Only based on the possibility I might have of going for a trainee PCV bus driver.

I've never driven buses and I only shunt coaches around the yard at the operator I currently work for. Only thinkining of taking the job if I move up here from the south west, so I don't know the area, would that be an issue?

I also am hopeless at working out change in my head quickly so I'd be hopeless at that unless it tells you the change?

I also understand if you take the PCV training Within the company you have to work there for a certain amount of years or if you leave within that period, you have to pay it back.


If anyone has any experiences I'd like to hear them.


James

 

[Volvodart]

Some of the drivers who were with First Aberdeen for some time (some more than once) who went to Stagecoach Aberdeen did not stay long at all. There have been numerous instances of this over the years. It is noticeable with all the First Aberdeen leavers since April, very few have gone there.

 

[philthetube]

Hello all,

Has anyone worked for Stagecoach in Scotland before in the Aberdeen area? Only based on the possibility I might have of going for a trainee PCV bus driver.

I've never driven buses and I only shunt coaches around the yard at the operator I currently work for. Only thinkining of taking the job if I move up here from the south west, so I don't know the area, would that be an issue?

I also am hopeless at working out change in my head quickly so I'd be hopeless at that unless it tells you the change?

I also understand if you take the PCV training Within the company you have to work there for a certain amount of years or if you leave within that period, you have to pay it back.


If anyone has any experiences I'd like to hear them.


James

Learn to backcount change and you wont find that a problem, find an old shop assistant to show you.

basically, for example
If someone gives you a £10 note to spend £3.40 you go 10p makes £3.50 +50p makes £4 +£1 makes £5 and another fiver makes it up to the tenner, the money you will have in your hand will be £6.60 which is the correct change. Get a few coins, a quick practice with a friend and you will wonder what you were worrying about.

 

[Kahuna47]

Learn to backcount change and you wont find that a problem, find an old shop assistant to show you.

basically, for example
If someone gives you a £10 note to spend £3.40 you go 10p makes £3.50 +50p makes £4 +£1 makes £5 and another fiver makes it up to the tenner, the money you will have in your hand will be £6.60 which is the correct change. Get a few coins, a quick practice with a friend and you will wonder what you were worrying about.

As a current Bus Driver, thats exactly how I do it! You will have to pass a basic numeracy test though so thats something to bear in mind for interview.

I'm not sure what ETMs they use up there but the Almexes and Ticketer machines I've used have a basic calculator function - particularly useful if someone gives you an odd domination of cash (10.80 for a 3.80 ticket etc).

K

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Thanks for the numeracy tips! I have done very basic change before when I do courier jobs, as selling teas and coffees requires doing change in your head, however as they are regulars they tend to have the right money anyway, if not they give you a pound so its just 30p change (drinks are 70p) so I get used to that. Only once someone gave me a fiver for two drinks (£1.40) and I managed to stuff it up and short change them (think it was about 10 - 20p short, it was something small, can't remember how I managed to stuff it up!)

Thanks for the heads up about Stagecoach too, maybe First Aberdeen is a bit better? Or maybe Lothian or McGills (I did look at McGills who are also recruiting PCV trainees, but having looked at a couple of their timetables, it looks like they do some Glasow routes into the night, I can imagine some of the abuse you must get on that. I only say that as someone I know works on ScotRail and used to work on the barriers at Glasow, and said he got a fair amount of abuse on a friday/saturday night

 

[Stan Drews]

Aberdeen is a fairly expensive place to stay, so if you are planning to relocate, there are likely to be cheaper places to live. Much depends on the type of work you think you would prefer doing.

 

[CatfordCat]

I also understand if you take the PCV training Within the company you have to work there for a certain amount of years or if you leave within that period, you have to pay it back.

No personal experience of Stagecoach Scotland, but I would be very surprised if this isn't a clause in their contract. In general, a figure of a couple of thousand pounds isn't unusual, and two years is usually the cut-off. It does vary from one company to another, and in some cases the amount will reduce over time, e.g. if you leave in the first 6 months it's the full amount, 75% in months 7 to 12 and so on. I'm sure they will tell you what the deal is during the recruitment process as they will want you to sign to say you are aware of this!

I don't know the area, would that be an issue?

Any reputable bus operator will include 'route learning' in your training, although it can be a heck of a lot to take in over a short space of time, and with most bus operators, you tend to start off as 'spare' so need to know all the routes at the depot, and only once you have got a bit of seniority (and therefore experience) in do you get a place on a rota that may (depending on the scale of the depot) just be certain routes.

Some operators (think it's more of a First thing) do try to avoid this by having one route (or a small group of routes) as a newcomers' thing so that you are not in the position of being completely new to the job at the same time as having the widest possible variety of buses and routes.

Personally, I'd not be keen on taking a bus driving job in an area I don't know at all.

 

[Statto]

No personal experience of Stagecoach Scotland, but I would be very surprised if this isn't a clause in their contract. In general, a figure of a couple of thousand pounds isn't unusual, and two years is usually the cut-off. It does vary from one company to another, and in some cases the amount will reduce over time, e.g. if you leave in the first 6 months it's the full amount, 75% in months 7 to 12 and so on. I'm sure they will tell you what the deal is during the recruitment process as they will want you to sign to say you are aware of this!



Any reputable bus operator will include 'route learning' in your training, although it can be a heck of a lot to take in over a short space of time, and with most bus operators, you tend to start off as 'spare' so need to know all the routes at the depot, and only once you have got a bit of seniority (and therefore experience) in do you get a place on a rota that may (depending on the scale of the depot) just be certain routes.

Some operators (think it's more of a First thing) do try to avoid this by having one route (or a small group of routes) as a newcomers' thing so that you are not in the position of being completely new to the job at the same time as having the widest possible variety of buses and routes.

Personally, I'd not be keen on taking a bus driving job in an area I don't know at all.

I'm always an advocate on this, if you don't know the routes, try & get a list of routes from the company operate from the depot you wish to be based at, if you have time on a day off get a day ticket & & ride as much of the routes as possible that the depot operates, School routes can be the most tricky to learn though, & Stagecoach Aberdeenshire also have a few long routes as well, with a journey times of 3 hours plus, others can take 2 hours, although i don't think you drive the whole route, just part of the route then bring another bus back after a break.

 

[Arriva Fan]

Thanks for the numeracy tips! I have done very basic change before when I do courier jobs, as selling teas and coffees requires doing change in your head, however as they are regulars they tend to have the right money anyway, if not they give you a pound so its just 30p change (drinks are 70p) so I get used to that. Only once someone gave me a fiver for two drinks (£1.40) and I managed to stuff it up and short change them (think it was about 10 - 20p short, it was something small, can't remember how I managed to stuff it up!)

Thanks for the heads up about Stagecoach too, maybe First Aberdeen is a bit better? Or maybe Lothian or McGills (I did look at McGills who are also recruiting PCV trainees, but having looked at a couple of their timetables, it looks like they do some Glasow routes into the night, I can imagine some of the abuse you must get on that. I only say that as someone I know works on ScotRail and used to work on the barriers at Glasow, and said he got a fair amount of abuse on a friday/saturday night

I wouldn't recommend McGill's either, a lot of the drivers who transferred to them from Arriva soon left. They aren't good to work for.

Arriva and First are good to work for, and offer protection to their drivers if that's a concern for you. Arriva Scotland West had anti-assault screens and I believe all First operations in the area have them too.

I'm not sure about Aberdeen, but First Glasgow also doesn't require you to count change. They have vaults onboard, and take exact fare only.

 

[Jordan Adam]

If you plan on joining any part of Stagecoach North Scotland be prepared to spend many hours with a broken down bus/coach waiting for breakdown assistance....

I'm not sure about Aberdeen, but First Glasgow also doesn't require you to count change. They have vaults onboard, and take exact fare only.

Aberdeen also take exact fare with the vaults on board.

 

[route101]

McGills dont operate any nightbuses but do operate to near midnight on some routes.Heard a few drivers moaning about one depot and saing good things about another at McGills

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Thanks again guys, maybe First Aberdeen is something to consider?

I need to chose very wisely, as it would be difficult to get the training, start the job proper and then decide I don't like it, then if I leave I'm lumbered with paying the PCV training money back.

CatfordCat/Statto - I'm wondering then if it's worth getting any local job just to keep the money flowing and in my spare time/days off go out on a First day ticket and do a lot of riding on First routes?

 

[philthetube]

If you plan on joining any part of Stagecoach North Scotland be prepared to spend many hours with a broken down bus/coach waiting for breakdown assistance.....

Well that's easier than working fora living,

 

[Jordan Adam]

Well that's easier than working fora living,

Would get a bit boring though as you have no signal in many rural places.

 

[Statto]

Thanks again guys, maybe First Aberdeen is something to consider?

I need to chose very wisely, as it would be difficult to get the training, start the job proper and then decide I don't like it, then if I leave I'm lumbered with paying the PCV training money back.

CatfordCat/Statto - I'm wondering then if it's worth getting any local job just to keep the money flowing and in my spare time/days off go out on a First day ticket and do a lot of riding on First routes?

Yep, in your spare time if you can do so, it's definitely worth buying a day ticket & doing a lot of journey's on the company you wish to work for, it also gives you better local knowledge of the area, should the bus your driving be curtailed or diverted for incident/roadworks ecc.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Speaking of Stagecoach North Scotland "kwality"...

See the spoiler below to view what i witnessed in public service on the 291 in Aberdeen today!

Spoiler: 53338 on the 291

 

[overthewater]

One wonder it the depot engineering manager is refusing to spend the money to get a bonus?

 

[Jordan Adam]

One wonder it the depot engineering manager is refusing to spend the money to get a bonus?

The panel fell off 53338 near Potterton (on the route of the 291 just north of Aberdeen). The driver didn't realise it had came off till one of the dispatchers at Aberdeen Bus Station halted him. The panel was collected by the driver of the next service through Potterton (290) and then refitted at the bus station, 53338 was then put out on a 202.

There was also a non-dda complaint Solo (47568) going about... Breaking the "21 day rule" as it's been in it's current state for almost a year.

Gosh i love Stagecoach North Scotland sometimes!

 

[overthewater]

Where did it all go wrong?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Where did it all go wrong?

Not too sure, it seems to be around the time they took over Rapsons that things slowly started to go downhill, then when Mark Cutlocks joined it got worse.

They just don't seem to care. I'd say generally speaking Inverness is the worst depot within Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird Buses Ltd & Highland Country Ltd).

 

[overthewater]

Not too sure, it seems to be around the time they took over Rapsons that things slowly started to go downhill, then when Mark Cutlocks joined it got worse.

They just don't seem to care. I'd say generally speaking Inverness is the worst depot within Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird Buses Ltd & Highland Country Ltd).

How much of the old highland Network is still with Stagecoach? apart from wick and Aviemore everything else seem to have gone. Mark Cutlocks make everything worse

 

[Jordan Adam]

How much of the old highland Network is still with Stagecoach? apart from wick and Aviemore everything else seem to have gone. Mark Cutlocks make everything worse

Sod knows. If we continued at his rate there would be no Stagecoach North Scotland left by the year 2025! Good thing that Cumbria will now have to put up with him.

 

[GusB]

How much of the old highland Network is still with Stagecoach? apart from wick and Aviemore everything else seem to have gone. Mark Cutlocks make everything worse

I'm in Nairn at the moment, and other than the 10/11, pretty much all the rural services in the area (presumably tendered) are run by D&E Coaches.