Kingdom FM presenter Vanessa Motion sets off on her journey to become a bus driver with Stagecoach East Scotland

Resident breakfast presenter at Fife’s feel good station Kingdom FM is backing bus company Stagecoach’s drive to encourage more women to consider a career in the bus industry.

Vanessa – already a keen bus user – is training with Stagecoach to become a qualified bus driver.

Vanessa has been challenged with undertaking training for her PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence which is required by all serving bus drivers, by the middle of May.

The qualification requires trainees to undertake a medical, pass a theory test, classroom training, complete around 30 hours of on-the-road training and pass a final examination carried out by an independent examiner.

The radio star’s training is being carried out by Stagecoach East Scotland with a driving instructor at the company’s Aberhill depot in Fife.

Vanessa's challenge kicks off today, on International Women’s Day, an event which marks the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women.

The challenge for Vanessa is to learn to drive a bus (and pass!) in time to drive a bus during an event held by Stagecoach in May.

It is hoped by Saturday 19 May, Vanessa will drive a bus at Stagecoach East Scotland’s Dunfermline depot open day – celebrating 100 years of the bus garage.

The open day celebrates 100 years of the company's Dunfermline bus garage, which will host a range of activities on Saturday 19 May.

Vanessa, one half of the popular Kingdom FM breakfast duo, alongside Dave Connor – will be sharing her experience on the Kingdom FM website.

Vanessa Motion said: “I am absolutely delighted that Stagecoach is offering me this opportunity to train as a bus driver with them. This is genuinely a childhood dream being fulfilled."

Stagecoach Operations Director David Frenz also said: “This is a great opportunity for us to highlight the vital role drivers play within our business and Vanessa will see firsthand the rigorous training process our staff undertake. Although our workforce is still predominately male, we want to make more women aware of what a career with Stagecoach can offer them.

We hope Vanessa’s experience will encourage other women looking for a career in the bus industry and we wish her all the best with her upcoming training.”