Welcome to the Pulhams Driver Training Academy!

We are delighted that you are considering joining our Trainee Bus and Coach Driver programme. To help you decide whether or not it is the right choice for you, we’ve put together some handy information below. Read on to find out more!

Pulhams is a coach and bus operator based in Bourton-on-the-Water, right in the heart of the Cotswolds. Established in 1880, we are an award-winning business serving the community for nearly 150 years. We are proud to be a member of the prestigious Guild of British Coach Operators and DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme. We operate over 110 buses and coaches on a mix of work, including private hire trips, UK and European tours, home-to-school transport, educational excursions and local bus services.

In 2023, we joined the Go-Ahead Group, under the management of the Oxford Bus Company. Though we are a part of a larger organisation, we remain a community-focused local operator, keen to keep the family-run feel we’ve cultivated for over a century. We made our first steps towards a greener Cotswolds in 2026 with the launch of 15 brand-new electric buses joining our fleet, a far cry from the horse-drawn cart the company started out with!

Our Driver Training Programme enables you to obtain your full category D licence entitlement and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC), starting you on the path to a brand new career! Unlike commercial training providers, who focus solely on passing the test, we focus on your development and practical aspects of the job, meaning you’re fully ready to hop in the driver’s seat and get on the road as soon as possible. We’ll help you to achieve the high standards we expect of our employees, from route planning, safe and efficient driving, looking after your vehicle and providing exemplary customer service to our passengers.

“Working at Pulhams has all the benefits of working for a big company, but still feels like a family.” – Emily Bowring, Bus Driver.

Our training programme is suitable for anyone aged 18 to 60+. We offer a wide range of contracts to suit your personal circumstances. Would you like to explore the UK and Europe as a coach driver? Or maybe you’d rather do the school run in mornings and afternoons, with 14 weeks off per year? Maybe driving through the rolling Cotswold countryside is more your speed, driving local bus routes and connecting communities. Whatever your preference, at Pulhams we’ll train you up to the highest standard and get you on a schedule that suits you.

The Driver Training Programme comprises five ‘Steps to Success’, each designed to make sure you get the absolute best start on your driving journey.

Step 1 – The Interview

Once we’ve got your application, we’ll invite you for either an online or telephone interview to discuss the job and why you’d like to join the Pulhams family. This is a great opportunity to ask us some questions to see if we’re right for you. At this stage, we’ll also ask you to complete a short questionnaire so we can get a feel for your fit with us. Following this, we’ll bring you in for a face-to-face interview with the wonderful folks at the depot to assess your suitability for our training scheme. We may also wish to hop in the car and assess your driving skills there.

When attending an interview with us, remember to dress smartly and arrive on time. Nobody likes it when their bus is late, so we ask that our candidates show up on time, too! Be yourself; there are no trick questions to catch you out. At Pulhams, our interviews are formal but friendly; we want to get to know you. Most importantly, be true. Can’t make it? Changed your mind? Be honest and let us know! We’d rather you be honest with us, rather than being stood up.

If your interview is successful, we’ll offer you a taster session to see if bus driving is going to be your thing. Hopping aboard a service bus and coach will give you a good understanding of what the roles entail and help you choose which path you’d like to follow. We’ll also have a chat to discuss what kind of contract and hours will suit you once you’re qualified.

Step 2 – The Contracts

If you’re successful and decide that you want to hop aboard with Pulhams, we’ll move on to the slightly more boring admin bits and ask you to read and sign a Training Agreement and Training Contract. The Training Agreement is your formal acceptance of the training programme, from the medical to the practical training. Once signed, you will be liable for any costs incurred if you leave before the time specified on the contract.

Your Training Contract will start from the first day of your practical training and will stay in play until you pass your practical test. It also ensures that you are paid for any work you do with us, such as cleaning or driving a car, if applicable.

Assuming all goes well, once you’ve completed your training, your Formal Contract of Employment will begin. This will show your qualified driving pay rate and the number of hours we’ve agreed that you’d like to work. Once you’re formally employed by us, we’ll also be able to offer you a great range of benefits like membership of the Transport Benevolent Fund, free travel for you and a friend on all Pulhams, Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, Carousel and Stagecoach West services, as well as retail and cinema discounts, to name a few.

Step 3 – The Medical and Provisional Entitlement

At step 3, we’ll provide you with a D2 form to apply for a provisional Category D entitlement on your licence, and a D4 form to apply for your driver medical. The doctor will complete most of the D4; there’s just a shortish section on the back for you to complete. We’ll book and pay for your driver medical, but you must attend in your own time. The D2 needs to be completed by you, but we’ll give you a hand if you need one.

The forms will need to be returned to us with your photocard licence. We’ll send them to the DVLA through a vocational application system on your behalf. While waiting for your application to be processed, you should get a on head start studying for the theory test. We’ll provide all of the resources for this, but it’s up to you to study hard! As soon as your license is back in your hands, let us know so we can get started.

Step 4 – The Theory Test

Now it’s time to get started on the theory test! You’ll need to pass all five modules before you can get started on the road. We’ll book and pay for everything, but you must study and attend the exams in your own time. If you’ve already started working with us, you’ll be paid a training rate during this time.

Part 1a is a multiple-choice section, lasting just under 2 hours. The pass mark is 85/100, and you can flag questions to come back to later, or change your answers any time.
Part 1b is hazard perception, just like when you were doing your driving test, you’ll watch some videos and spot the hazards that you see.
Part 2 is the case studies, bring along your photocard driving licence and answer multiple choice questions based on 7 different stories.
Part 3a is a reversing manoeuvre which is taught and tested either on site or at an approved DVSA test centre.
Part 4 is the walk-around checks and practical demonstrations, which can be taken now or after your practical test. To find out more about passing the theory test, you can check out a handy guide here.

Step 5 – The Practical Training

Practical training, also known as the fun bit, starts as soon as you complete step 4. You’ll have up to 2 weeks of training, getting behind the wheel of a bus or coach and heading out onto the road. As soon as you’re road-ready, we’ll book and pay for your practical driving test. The best part? Once you’re officially in practical training, you’ll be paid at the Trainee Driver rate for both training and testing. Currently, the rate is £10.75 per hour. While you’re learning, you’ll spend time shadowing qualified drivers to help you learn routes and understand the practical day-to-day elements of the job. It’s also an opportunity to get to know your new colleagues, who will be thrilled to welcome you to the company. We’ve fostered a helpful and supportive culture at Pulhams, so if you’re struggling, there’s always someone to turn to who is happy to help.

Your practical PCV driving test will last about an hour. Just like your car driving test, there will be a ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ exercise and a practical self-driving section. Before you leave the test centre, your instructor may ask you questions like “Where is the fire extinguisher?” or “Where would you find the odometer?”, nice and easy if you’ve been studying hard and listening in class. Again, the practical test is incredibly similar to your car driving test. You’ll be given some directions by your examiner and be asked to follow road signs to take you to a destination.

You’ve Passed, now what?

“Working at Pulhams, my office view is never the same. Driving around the Cotswolds and countryside, there is never a dull moment.” – Nedra Marklew, Bus Driver.

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, then it’s a bit pre-emptive, but once you’ve passed the practical test, you’ll be a fully qualified PCV driver and join our amazing team! We’ll get your contract signed straight away, giving you complete job security, and get you earning.

Your training, however, doesn’t end there. As part of our commitment to you, we’ll continue to support and mentor you throughout your newly qualified status, for as long as you need it. For the first 2 weeks of your employment, we’ll pair you with a mentor who will show you everything you need to know and give you confidence in your new career. Even after you’re fully qualified, there may be times when you need some advice or help day-to-day. Don’t fret! We’ll still be there to make sure everything goes smoothly and support your career.

We hope you’ll love working for Pulhams, we sure do, and that you’ll stay with us for many years to come. However, should you decide to head off elsewhere before completing 3 years of service, a payback scheme will operate. This means that for the first 3 years of your employment, you’ll be liable for 100% of the costs involved in your training. After that time is up, however, it’s on us.

Driving for Pulhams isn’t your average driving job. Both Pulhams and the wider Oxford Bus Group team are committed to upholding excellence in everything we do. Our colleagues are a vital asset, and we will train and support you in every area that we can. In return, we ask that you always drive safely and efficiently, ensuring you’re always on time and keeping both yourself and the general public out of harm’s way. Be enthusiastic and committed, practising outstanding customer service every day. Our customers are our community, and we want them to have the absolute best experience every time they step onto a Pulhams bus or coach. Communication is key; always listen when we’re passing on information or communications, and we’ll do the same for you. Be honest with us. If you have an issue or concern, let us know! We want to hear from you, and the only way something will get fixed is if you tell us. Be on time, dress smart and always adhere to the standards of the company, the Guild of British Coach Operators and the DVSA Earned Recognition scheme.

Are you ready to jump into the driver’s seat, and join a career that will last a lifetime? Complete an application form and trainee assessment form to get started.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our training team at 01451 820369 or hr@pulhamcoaches.com and a member of our wonderful team will be happy to help!