Bus Driver Emma (19) follows her father's footsteps to join the Transdev team

New bus driver Emma Pool-Long is on the road to a bright future with Yorkshire bus operator Transdev … after following her dad to take her place behind the wheel.

19 year old Emma has just joined the growing team at the company’s recently-opened depot in York, having become a fully qualified bus driver at the first attempt.

And no-one is more proud of Emma’s achievements than her dad Chris – who usually drives from Transdev’s Harrogate depot, and is currently helping out at its Team Pennine bus firm in Elland, near Halifax.

Emma said: “I decided to train as a bus driver after I went along to a recruiting event on a Saturday in April, at the Rawcliffe depot in York where I’m now based full time.

“From the moment I had a go at driving a training bus inside the depot, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Everyone here has supported me every step of the way, and for me, driving a bus just feels like driving a car – except it’s a lot bigger of course!”

Instructors from Transdev’s in-house training team, The Academy, soon found Emma was a natural – and no wonder, given her family’s bus driving heritage.

Emma said: “A lot of my family have been bus drivers, so maybe that’s one reason why I’ve taken to it so quickly. I’m still in my first few weeks so it’s early days, but I’m really enjoying it!

“I’m driving open top buses for our City Sightseeing York tours at the moment and I love it. The best thing is meeting lots of new people as we have customers from all over the world discovering our beautiful city with us.”

Emma’s dad Chris is very proud of his daughter’s achievement in becoming the latest to steer into the family career.

Chris said: “It’s great to see Emma taking to bus driving so quickly and most of all, to see her enjoying every minute of it. Passing her test first time is something special given she’s only 19, and she has a great career ahead of her now.

“I’m one of the longest serving drivers at our Harrogate depot and I can see why Emma’s enjoying it – and when I finally retire, we’ll still have a bus driver in the family!”

For those considering following Emma into a new career on the road, Transdev is currently recruiting new drivers at its York depot, which opened in April of this year and offers the most up-to-the-minute staff welfare and training facilities.

Full details of all opportunities plus the many benefits of working with Transdev are available online at: transdevbus.co.uk/work-with-us.