In Pavia, the Autoguidovie Academy trains a new generation of drivers. Free, preferably unemployed

A new project to train new-generation bus drivers is about to start in Pavia and Lacchiarella. These are professionals of whom there is an ever-increasing shortage, especially in the cities, partly due to the high cost of living and the issue of safety, which make the profession less attractive than in the past. This is why Autoguidovie, a historic collective mobility company present in Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto, in collaboration with Enaip, is launching an experimental Academy to train new profiles. "With Enaip we want to start a strategic collaboration to respond to a concrete challenge in our sector: the shortage of qualified drivers in local public transport," says Maria Rosaria De Maio, People Transformation Manager Autoguidovie. The aim is to develop tailor-made training courses, qualifying for the D licence and the CQC, which offer participants concrete employment opportunities and contribute to strengthening the public service. The intention is to recruit resources precisely in the territories where we operate in order to create a virtuous circuit through which we contribute to social and economic development in the communities, creating a shared and mutual value".

The selection of candidates will take place on 11 and 25 September 2025, and the course in which they will be placed will allow them to obtain the D licence and the CQC driver qualification card. Totally free of charge. Not only that. Those selected will have, from day one, a part-time, fixed-term contract that, once the training is completed, can be converted into a full-time, indefinite contract. After completing thetraining programme, which lasts 320 hours, and after obtaining the qualification to drive the buses, the contracts will in fact be transformed into indefinite full-time with the qualification of "operating operators" and will be stipulated directly by Autoguidovie.

The Academy is aimed at people who are unemployed or who are willing to change jobs and become professional drivers and are ready to take a full immersion course on industry regulations, road safety and many other aspects of the driving profession. To participate in the course, there are also other requirements, such as eage of no less than 21 years, possession of a B licence or higher, good knowledge and command of the Italian language, a secondary school leaving certificate or better still a higher education qualification, and idpsychophysical suitability for obtaining a driving licence for the transport of persons. For those who manage to become Autoguidovie drivers, the contract applied will be that of Autoferrotranvieri with Autoguidovie welfare and pay. So meal vouchers of 8 euros net for each day worked, advance planning of shifts, monthly salary starting at 1,597 euros gross, thirteenth and fourteenth month's pay, commission of 1 euro for each ticket sold on board the bus, professional training and renewal of licences paid for by the company.