Although not essential, you could do a customer service course at college before applying for a job as a trainee tram driver.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Career Suggestion
Tram driver
Tram drivers provide passenger transport services along set routes, following a timetable.
Average salary (a year)
£24000.0 to £32000.0 (starter to experienced)
Typical hours (a week)
39.0 to 42.0 a week
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
Apprenticeship
You can apply for a place on a Passenger Transport Driver Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, with a tram operating company .
This takes around a year to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More Information
- equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
- guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work
You could start as a passenger transport assistant or conductor and move into driving work through internal company promotion and training.
Direct Application
You could apply to vacancies advertised by tram operating companies . Some employers may ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), particularly in English and maths. Customer service skills are also important.
To apply, you'll usually need to be over 21 and have a clean driving licence.
Experience as a bus, coach or train driver would be useful but is not essential.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in light rail from UK Tram.
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work well with others
- observation and recording skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
- have a full driving licence
- be over 21 years of age
- pass a medical check
- be screened for drugs and alcohol
Day-to-day tasks
As a tram driver, you'll:
- carry out safety checks on equipment controls at the start of a shift
- follow a timetable schedule 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 the tram's public address system
- report incidents that happen during a shift, such as signal or equipment failure
Working environment
Your working environment may be noisy.
You may need to wear a uniform.
With experience and further training, you could move into a supervisory role, like depot manager or route manager.
Other options include working in revenue protection or being a driving trainer, teaching new staff how to operate trams.
There may also be opportunities to get involved with heritage tram services during holiday periods.