Student bus driver urges others to take up roles amid West Country shortage
Dren Ahmeti drives buses in Bristol part time alongside his studies at UWE
A student at the University of the West of England (UWE) who's been working as a bus driver for almost a year, is encouraging others to follow his lead, as the West Country deals with a significant driver shortage.
We've been speaking to third year student Dren Ahmeti about his part time job with First West of England, to hear how he's helping solve the problem of a lack of buses across the region.
He told us he got involved having always had an interest in the transport industry.
"From the start of lockdown I was working as a delivery driver, driving round three-and a-half-tonne delivery vans round Bristol," he said.
"That was an interesting experience to say the least and I just thought it would be the natural progression (to move onto) buses."
The current driver shortage
First West of England, for whom Dren now works part time, is currently facing a shortage of around 200 drivers in the Bristol and Bath area, caused by a mixture of Brexit and coronavirus.
Last year the company announced it was cancelling hundreds of weekly journeys across Bristol, blaming the lack of drivers, but the firm has always said it plans to reinstate them by April this year.
Dren says he was aware of the shortage, but that largely wasn't the reason for him signing up, in March last year.
"I was discussing with one of my friends about 'what kind of jobs do you think I could do driving wise?'
"He was a bus driver in London at the time and he suggested to me, 'why don't you go for bus driving?'
"And I thought, 'yeah that's actually a pretty good idea...'
"I never looked back from that point onwards."
Being a student driver
Towards the end of 2022 regional Mayor Dan Norris, who is in charge of transport policy across Bristol and Bath, suggested students should take up jobs as bus drivers exactly like Dren has, to help alleviate the shortage.
Here at the station we felt some scepticism as to whether students would be either willing or able to do that, but Dren says that perception isn't fair.
"With the flexibility that First have offered me personally and that I know that they offer when you apply for part time jobs I think there are shifts that appeal to anyone," he said.
"I'm personally a late driver, I'm one of your typical students that tends to come home late and wake up late.
"I woke up on the wrong side of midday for example today, I don't like waking up before 12 usually but, I've gotten a bit better now with it.
"Yeah, there's shifts that appeal to everyone."
He tells us some people do question his age when they first spot him in the drivers seat, but it's never been a serious issue.
"I've had people comment, 'oh wow you look very young', especially when I first started (when he was 20-21)," he said.
"They were saying, 'oh you look pretty young to be driving a bus,' and I would joke around with them and say, 'do you want to see my licence..?'
"I don't think it's been met with any negativity, I think it's just more shock...or just interest more than anything."
The call to others
When Mayor Norris suggested students should get jobs as drivers, he suggested it would be a great way for them to make money alongside their studies and that clearly is the case.
Dren says he's taking home several hundred pounds a week through his role, which helps pay for his bills and hobbies.
"I would honestly recommend it to people," he said.
"If you enjoy driving, if you like driving about in your car, why not drive a bus and get paid for it?
"If you can make it work for you with what First offer, and what other companies offer then I would say yes, I'd recommend it."
You can find more about jobs with First via this link.
Stagecoach, who also run bus services in the South West, have a recruitment page here.