A DRIVER for a Malvern coach company is one of the first in the county to complete a new training qualification.

Tony Sollis, who has worked for Malvernian Tours for the past six years, is one of 25 drivers in Worcestershire to achieve an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in road passenger transport.

The year-long programme was launched this year by Worcestershire County Council and is run by Evesham and Malvern Hills College.

Drivers are assessed on the job in customer care, helping passengers with special needs and health and safety awareness, before sitting a written test.

This is aimed at improving standards of customer care and boosting drivers' morale and job satisfaction.

Mr Sollis said he found the training useful and felt he had benefited from it.

"It makes you feel as though you're a bit more professional," he said.

"You've got an NVQ and you're not just a coach driver."

Nicola Perry, transport training co-ordinator for the county council, said: "The drivers have all demonstrated a first-class attitude to customer care, positively using what they have learned to improve the customers' overall travel experience.

"The second training programme has just begun and we would urge other transport providers to contact us if they have drivers interested in achieving the qualification."

Successful candidates also took part in an awards ceremony at The Learning Zone, at Malvern's Enigma Business Park, on Wednesday.

For more information on the programme, call Ben Sheehy on 01905 768405.