Women in Buses and Coach Summer Internship

Women in Buses and Coach Summer Internship

Creating Inclusive Opportunities for Women in the Bus and Coach Industry

Bursary Award:

A bursary of £25,294 (pro rata)

Location

London

What we offer

You will enjoy excellent benefits and scope to grow. Rewards vary according to the business area but mostly include:

• Free travel on the TfL network for you and a nominee who lives in the same household.
• Discounted national rail and Eurostar travel
• Minimum 28 days Annual Leave (Pro rata dependant on the role) plus public and bank holidays
• Tax-efficient cycle-to-work programme
• Retail, health, leisure and travel offers & many more

Duration

12 weeks

Entry Requirements

Working towards a degree in any discipline, or if completed within the last year, a minimum grade of 2:2. It is also open to students pursuing a master’s degree or those who have completed their master’s within the past year.

As a positive action programme, applications to join this internship in 2026 are sought only from candidates with specific protected characteristics who are:

• Women (this scheme will also be open to Non-Binary individuals)

Please be advised that should you be successful in getting an offer for this summer placement scheme, your offer will be subject to a satisfactory medical which may include but is not limited to: drugs and alcohol screening, eye test and hearing test.

Successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the scheme, as at the start date. This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa scheme. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, or only have a right to work here for a limited time which is lesser than the duration of the scheme, you should be aware that TfL will be unable to sponsor you for this role.

Start Date

Monday 15th June 2026

Internship overview

In Bus Operations, we are responsible for the biggest single provider of public transport journeys in London. We work to deliver safe, reliable, and accessible bus, coach, and assisted transport networks. The key areas of delivery include London’s entire bus network, On Demand Transport, and Victoria Coach Station

What will I be doing?

As an intern, your 12-week development programme will be made up of at least 6 placements. Our aim is to introduce you to the range of skills and experience you may need for your successful career.

We also understand that everyone’s career is different, so every intern’s journey is unique. Here’s an idea of what yours could look like:

Placement 1: Bus Safety Development Team

• Support the implementation of Vision Zero initiatives aimed at eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on the bus network.
• Assist in analysing safety data to identify trends and recommend improvements to enhance passenger and driver safety.

Placement 2: Bus Customer Action Plan Team

• Collaborate on projects to improve the customer experience, such as enhancing bus interiors and developing accessible facilities.
• Conduct customer satisfaction research to identify key areas for improvement and help shape future initiatives.

Placement 3: Zero Emission Fleet Team

• Contribute to the roll-out of zero-emission buses by supporting project planning and logistics.
• Work with the engineering team to evaluate the environmental impact and performance of new zero-emission vehicles

Placement 4: Operational Placement

• Gain hands-on experience by working alongside network traffic controllers to help manage live incidents and support real-time diversions.
• Assist bus station controllers and garage teams in daily operations, including coordinating vehicle movements, ensuring customer safety, and maintaining service efficiency.
• Support operational teams in maintaining bus station efficiency and resolving day-to-day logistical challenges.

Placement 5: Victoria Coach Station House

• Work directly with operational managers to gain first-hand experience in managing Europe’s largest coach terminus, including coach scheduling, passenger flow coordination, and operational problem-solving.

Placement 6: Dial-a-Ride

• Get hands-on experience in journey scheduling and service coordination, ensuring efficient and effective transport for customers with limited mobility.
• Work alongside drivers and operations staff, participating in daily activities to understand the challenges and logistics of delivering door-to-door transport services.

Placements within this internship are designed to be flexible, tailored to the needs and interests of the interns. While the programme offers structured opportunities across six key areas, we aim to provide an experience that aligns with each intern’s career aspirations and goals. This flexibility ensures that participants gain the most value from their placement while contributing meaningfully to the Bus and Coach Industry.

Sustainability

Sustainability is intrinsic to TfL’s work ethos, and we ensure that we operate in a sustainable way to protect and regenerate the natural world.

What can this internship offer you

Our interns will have the opportunity to make a real impact within TfL’s Bus Operations. The internship in bus and coach is both varied and rewarding, with opportunities to work on innovative projects that improve safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

During this internship, you’ll gain meaningful and valuable experience contributing to high-profile initiatives, such as advancing the roll-out of zero-emission buses, supporting Vision Zero safety improvements, and enhancing the customer experience across London’s bus network.

At the end of your placement, you will be well-positioned to pursue further opportunities within the Bus and Coach Industry.

What training and support will you get?

Our award-winning teams will support your ongoing development, through a wide range of on-the-job practical experience and placements. We'll support your professional development through a combination of training, mentoring, and networking.

You'll also receive one-to-one guidance throughout the programme from your:

• Placement manager: Responsible for your day-to-day management and support with your development
• Scheme sponsor: A senior manager who acts as a technical and professional adviser and has line manager responsibility
• Buddy: Usually an apprentice or graduate who gives support to you and ensure that you feel welcomed in the organisation
• Development adviser: Supports your professional development through providing career coaching

What do we look for?

Our core values are extremely important to us, and we desire candidates who are:

• Caring about our colleagues, our customers and our work
• Open to each other, to new ideas and to working together
• Adaptable to diverse needs and willing to innovate

Application process

The application process consists of 5 steps, including online assessments which will need to be completed within an allocated time frame. We highly recommend that you read through this document thoroughly so that you can familiarise yourself with the process.

Please click on this link for which describes each stage of the Interns Application Process

If you already hold your qualification certificates, please upload copies of these to your application. If you are due to sit final exams or need to replace any certificates, these must be provided at a later stage.

You will receive information and guidance around each assessment stage as you progress through your application.

Please pay close attention to emails and deadlines provided noting you have 1 week to complete online assessments, and we cannot re-issue these tests once the deadline passes.

Assessment centres for graduates and intern roles will take place from December-January, please note that many roles only have 1 assessment day and we are unable to guarantee alternative dates. We are conducting assessment centres in person and virtually (role dependent).

Our city. Made better by you.

TfL is a place that’s open to your ideas. Where you can make a tangible impact and see the positive results of your work on the people and places around you. It’s a place where you can thrive and achieve. Where you’re encouraged and enabled and empowered to feel pride in the work you do. The clue is in the name, really. We work together for a better London. A better place for everyone. Constantly improving and enhancing how we operate to shape a city of the future.

Inclusive recruitment process

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

In High Volume campaigns including Graduate, Apprentice and Intern recruitment the minimum criteria we set is achieving a pass mark in our first stage assessments, adopting a proportionate approach as part of the Disability Confident scheme.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments for any stages of the application process.

Important Information

The nature of Operations on the railway means that you may be asked to undertake some working outside of the core 9am-5pm business hours. This may involve periods of shift working including nights and weekends. Some placements will also involve shift working for the length of placement although these are optional and 9am-5pm placements will also be made available.

Contact us

Contact the recruitment team by:

Phone: 0203 005 1680 (Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17.30)

Email: EarlyCareersCampaigns@tfl.gov.uk

About the Women in Buses Internship

The Women in Buses Internship is a diversity initiative and training opportunity aiming to address the lack of gender diversity in the Bus and Coach industry.

The internship aligns with the positive action provisions of the Equality Act 2010. This allows for an employer to take certain actions where people who share a protected characteristic, such as gender, are under-represented in participating in a particular activity. The Government guide to Positive Action in the Workplace sets out further detail on Section 158 ((General) positive action) of the Equality Act at Sections 8-9.

As a public sector body, TfL is required by Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 to advance the Public Sector Equality Duty, by which we must not only take steps to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation on grounds of protected characteristics, but must also seek to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not share it.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.