PERTH-BASED transport company Stagecoach intends to recruit 100 experienced bus drivers from Poland this year for its UK services.

The expansion of the European Union has made it possible for the firm to link up with Warsaw-based Polish Transport Holdings to identify and train new staff.

Stagecoach has already successfully recruited drivers from Malta as part of a partnership initiative with Aberdeen City Council.

The first group of around 20 Polish drivers will start work in Cheltenham and Manchester this week and the company expects to recruit the remainder by the end of the year.

The recruitment drive has the support of the trade unions and is part of Stagecoach’s commitment to delivering a “consistent, reliable level of service.”

Stagecoach UK bus service performance director Bob Montgomery commented, “Bus drivers have one of the most important jobs in the local community.

“Thousands of people rely on them every day and we invest a lot of time and resources to get the right people on board.

“We have a major ongoing campaign in the UK to attract people to a career in bus driving with attractive pay and conditions packages. Those measures are proving successful and will be enhanced by an additional stream of skilled, experienced employees from Eastern Europe.

“The excellent links we have put in place in Poland will help ensure we have a full team of professional drivers behind the wheel at our growing bus operations here in the UK.”

Stagecoach has put in place a comprehensive selection and training programme to ensure only the best drivers are recruited. All drivers will be interviewed, undergo a series of medical and background checks and undertake a detailed driving assessment.

Successful candidates will then take a 12-week English language course to ensure they have the right communication skills to meet the needs of passengers.

On arrival in the UK, the drivers are given a further two weeks’ off-road training, including route familiarisation, before they get behind the wheel for real.

Stagecoach has also put in place arrangements to allow the drivers to get top-up English language lessons at UK colleges as part of training and development.

Drivers recruited from overseas will receive the same pay and conditions as their UK counterparts.

Stagecoach employs around 18,000 people and operates more than 7000 buses in the UK.