Somerset Passenger Solutions Employee Reviews

When working at SPS as office staff i felt undervalued, isolated and like my work was never good enough. There is lot's of internal politics and thing's that you would not expect of a growing company. Everyone was alway's miserable and complaining and morale was low. I would not recommend working here if you value your happiness and work/life balance and want to be treated with respect and not talked down to.

Pros

None

Cons

Work politics

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

12 October 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry that your experience here wasn’t as positive as we would have liked.As a growing company we are always happy to have feedback, whether it is good or, in your case, negative, so that we can continuously work on improving our customer experience. If you could, please contact: spscustomerenquiries@spsbus.co.uk with further comments, concerns or suggestions you wish to share, so that we can address the issues you have raised.

Challenging but rewarding

Training Manager (Current Employee) - Junction 24 - 2 November 2023

Relatively new to the company and writing on the back of a successful start to my career with Somerset passenger solutions. The work is varied, fast paced, challenging and hugely rewarding. The majority of staff at all levels have been welcoming and helpful. Whilst the company is expanding and growing this can present issues from time to time as would be the case with any growing business. What is good is ultimately everyone pulls together to work solutions. Overall I'm relishing the challenge and enjoying my time at SPS.

Pros

Great culture, camaraderie across all work levels

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Insights into Somerset Passenger Solutions

Based on 29 survey responses

What people like

Fair pay for job

Areas for improvement

Sense of belonging
Support from manager
Energising work tasks

just vile if u value ur mental / emotional well being don’t work here

Coach/bus driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater - 29 October 2023

Vile place , no home/ work life balance, short turnarounds with very long hours , focus more on investigating, disapliniary sacking , poorly run poor communication, buses never there to take over , treat staff appalling, if u value your mental health stay away from this severely toxic place , no support just vile

Pros

Ok money

Cons

Short turn around no home life treated appalling threatening behaviour from management

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Not what they say they are.

PSV Driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater, Somerset - 6 October 2023

Promised the world, you will not fail but fail to back it up if you don’t fit in with them. Do not like being told they are wrong by people with more experience. A very clique place to work, if the head of HR likes you your fine but if not your days are numbered.Very toxic place to work but good money which why people put up with it.

Pros

Pay

Cons

Everything else

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

12 October 2023

Firstly, we would like to thank you for sharing your feedback. We are sorry that your experience here wasn’t a positive one.As a growing Company we are always happy to receive feedback so that we can continuously work on improving our colleague experience. If you could, please contact: spscustomerenquiries@spsbus.co.uk with further comments, concerns or suggestions you wish to share, so that we can address the issues you have raised.

Long hours, unpredictable shifts pattern.

PCV Driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater, Somerset - 28 June 2023

SPS served a purpose, however it left me exhausted and drained. With long hours (14hr shifts), short turnarounds between shifts = little sleep.For a driving role, this is bad news.I sadly became quite unwell owing to lack of sleep, mental health declined and it became impossible for me to continue - it was unsustainable.

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

11 September 2023

Dear PCV Driver. Thank you for sharing your feedback and we are sorry that your experience at SPS wasn't a positive one. We are always looking for ways to improve so if you could contact us on: spscustomerenquiries@spsbus.co.uk with further comments, concerns or suggestions you wish to share, so that we can address the issues you have raised. Thank you

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Great place to work

prefer not to say (Current Employee) - prefer not to say - 20 June 2023

I am a current employee of Somerset passenger solutions. This is the first job where I have genuinely felt valued. Management are helpful, caring and all have open door policy's which makes it so much easier to express concerns, ask questions and even just go in for a chat.The benefits are great, my favourite being the discounted train tickets (you can get to London for just £6!)

Pros

Benefits, people

Cons

None

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

11 September 2023

Dear Current Employee. Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We are happy that you are enjoying your journey with us. All feedback is gratefully received and enables us to constantly improve our employee experience.

Not good

Driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater - 10 May 2023

What can i say its bad long hours massively different start and finish times each day bare minimum rest periods, too many chiefs, not enough Indians slightest thing you do wrong, you’re treated like a criminal dont give rest days together

Pros

None

Cons

Poor management, long hours

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for sharing your feedback, and apologies for the delay in responding. We are sorry that your experience here wasn’t positive.As a growing Company we are always happy to receive feedback so that we can continuously work on improving our colleague experience. If you could, please email us at contactus@spsbus.co.uk with further comments, concerns or suggestions you wish to share, so that we can address the issues you have raised.

Just apply!

PCV Driver (Current Employee) - Bridgwater - 30 March 2023

SPS is a great place to work, fantastic pay especially for bus driving. Great team with tonnes of down time. And plenty of opportunities for progression.Plus after 6 months you get the First bus benefits of free bus travel and heavily discounted rail travel (currently £6 to get to London) Very flexible work to fit family commitments and the staff support network is top level 👌🏼

Pros

First Bus benefits and plenty of down time.

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for your fantastic 5 star review and for taking the time to share this! We cant disagree that the bus and rail travel is an excellent benefit.

Friendly and rewarding

Anonymous (Current Employee) - Bridgwater - 11 March 2023

Working for SPS is a challenging and rewarding experience. Being a driver is much easier than standard service work but start times take a bit of getting used to. Being part of the first nuclear new build project in a generation is fast-paced and unique. The culture and atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and there are plenty of opportunities for internal development.

Pros

Friendly atmosphere, good pay, cheap travel tickets.

Cons

Long hours, early starts.

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Supportive colleagues and management

Office Administrator (Current Employee) - J24 huntworth business park Bridgwater - 3 March 2023

The business has grown quickly and management have gone through a few changes but the ethos has stayed the same. Your are challenged and empowered to do your job well

Pros

Good wages compared to the open market, friendly business, ongoing training and development

Cons

Sometimes difficult to get the correct work life balance

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for your 5 star review and for taking the time to share this.

Jobs at Somerset Passenger Solutions

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Trainee or Qualified PCV Coach Driver - Full or Part Time

Great place to work, I thoroughly enjoy it!

Office Worker (Current Employee) - Bridgwater, Somerset - 24 February 2023

I love my job. I have been given so much support by the management team and other colleagues since starting at SPS, there are many opportunities to progress your career. We all work together to get the job done!

Pros

Teamwork, good benefits (discounted rail and bus tickets after 6 months), good pay, good opportunities.

Cons

Long hours for drivers/Supervisors.

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for your 5 star review and for sharing this! We love that you love your job!

Fast paced, fun and collaborative workplace with great benefits

Support Services (Current Employee) - Bridgwater - 23 February 2023

Best place I have worked. Given the support and trust by management to make decisions. Fantastic collaborative team. Feel genuinely happy to get to work every day.

Pros

Sense of team, fun work environment with real support from management

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for your fantastic 5 star review and for sharing your experience.

A fast growing transportation company with lots of career opportunities in a variety of departments.

Training Manager (Current Employee) - Office Based - 22 February 2023

My typical work day is primarily office based with a mixture of meetings and staff interactions. There are many opportunities to progress your career and enhance your professional development. Although a fast-paced environment, colleagues and management are supportive and staff health and wellbeing is high on the company's agenda. There is a friendly culture welcoming colleagues from all walks of life with a positive integration of staff across the company.

Pros

Career progression opportunities, staff pension, other benefits (such as retail discounts & free bus travel and reduced train travel costs)

Cons

Some driver & supervisor positions can be long hours and unsociable working hours, however a variety of shift patterns are available to suit everyone's requirements

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Thank you for your 5 star review and for sharing your experience.

Overworked and underpaid

Driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater - 4 February 2023

Very early starts and lots of standby time doing absolutely nothing. Not a good place to work if you want a good work/home life balance. Found driving whilst so tired at times was dangerous.

Pros

None

Cons

Long hours

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Official response from Somerset Passenger Solutions

31 May 2023

Dear Driver. Thank you for your review, we really appreciate all feedback. If there are any specific issues that you would like to address, please email us at contactus@spsbus.co.uk, so that we can address them.

Not family friendly

PCV Bus Driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater - 17 December 2022

Sinse the staff turnover is huge more people was leaving than new staff starting. Never have I ever had a job where work life balance is so bad. Clocking 55+ hrs without even being asked, (a reflection of the bad turnover). For example, it wouldn't be strange to have just 9 hours off work then go in for your next shift, only to see your duty doesn't have a break for 10hrs on a 14 hr shift. When I manged to get out it was like a weight was lifted.

Pros

None

Cons

No life

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See past the politics

Supervisor (Current Employee) - Hpc - 18 November 2022

This company can be a good place to work if you can ignore all the negativity and politics. It's an easy job that's well paid. Just come in do your shift and go homes and it's an easy place to be

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Not a good place to work

Unknown (Former Employee) - Unknown - 18 September 2022

GDPR does not exist in this companyDrivers are informed of anyone on a disciplinary. Operations office always slagging drivers off In front of othersTotal shower

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Terrible

Driver (Current Employee) - Depot - 10 September 2022

Terrible place to work, no work life balance, wake,work, sleep repeat, very long shifts with very sort turn around 9 hrs regularly before you're back to work.No care for drivers. Too many chiefs not enough Indians.

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Not all it's cracked up to be

Driver (Former Employee) - SPS - 9 August 2022

You will have an interviewThey will tell you what you want to hearits 39 hours, you can choose what shift you want,you start at 7am....NONE OF THAT WILL HAPPENHours will be 45+ per week, EVERY WEEK, you'll get put on whatever shift needs to be covered and most of the time its at 3AM start, START, you'll need to be up way before that.Lack of sleepLack of a home lifevery little time to do anything if you are on a 13 hour shift and if you are full time you'll get 1 or 2 of those, if not more,a week.If you are thinking about this, ask questions that you need to know the answers to, MAKE NOTES and keep them.

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Good pay - bad environment

Bus Driver (Current Employee) - Bridgwater - 28 June 2022

Let me start with the positives: •You get your pcv licence for free and you’re paid while training which is really nice. •It’s a fairly independent job meaning that if you do you’re job well you’re pretty much left alone all the time.•Good pay after a year and lots of overtime available if you want to sell your soul for money. •Lot of down time usually so you can read the books / watch the series / play the games that you never had time for before.• Free onsite parking• Free coffee and tea• Discounted train & bus tickets with gwr and firstNow the not so nice parts:•Work life balance is worse than bad - very early starts (as early as 2:45am) and very long shifts, upwards of 14h, meaning that if you have children you’ll probably go to sleep earlier than them.•Very exhausting, you’ll want to catch up on sleep all the time. Imagine a week where your starting times are 4am and finish at 19:00 every day, this gives you 9h for commute, eating, shower, family time and sleep. You will have to sacrifice something here, and often it’s going to be the sleep.•After training you are on a base pay rate which is not very good. If you had your pcv licence before you’re still on this rate for a year no matter how experienced you are.•Loads of slackers around here meaning that if you’re the hard worker you’ll just get more work given and expected of you.•Down time can be very damaging to mental health if you’re not creative•Blame culture everywhere so you’re covering yourself all the time with pictures and other proofs.

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From bad to worse

Bus driver (Former Employee) - Bridgwater, Somerset - 25 May 2022

Everything about the company screams amateur. Massively over staffed and an ego driven HR dept, yet when you need them, they take weeks to reply to emails, all finish by midday Friday and not available at the weekend. So called 24hr operation!!!

Pros

Good pay for area

Cons

Long hours, start times vary by up to 9hrs difference, with minimal legal downtime between shifts. Very top heavy company, and they all sing from a different hymm sheet

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