Apprentice tram drivers operate trams, take fares, and look after passengers.
Responsibilities
Throughout your apprenticeship, you may help:
- carry out equipment checks at the start of your shift
- drive the tram along set routes
- pick up and drop off passengers at tram stops
- keep in radio contact with the control room for up-to-date route information
- make passenger announcements on a public address system
- write up reports on any incidents that happen during your shift.
Salary
- Starting salaries for an apprentice is £19,000 per year.
- Experienced tram divers can earn up to £30,000 per year.
Working hours
You will typically work 39 to 41 hours per week, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays on shifts.
Working environment
You could work from a vehicle.
Your working environment may be noisy.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Qualifications
Qualifications you can achieve as an apprentice tram driver include:
- Level 2 Passenger Transport Driver – Entry requirements for this level include some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship.
The apprenticeship typically takes 12 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.
Skills
On a tram driver apprenticeship, you’ll learn:
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- customer service skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could move into a supervisory role, like depot manager or route manager.
With further training you could become a driving trainer, teaching new staff how to drive trams.