Bus driver from France confused after being turned down on Stagecoach application in Catch-22 over permanent address
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A FRENCH bus driver looking to settle in the Highlands was left confused after being turned down by Stagecoach Highland – despite recruiting issues causing daily chaos on city bus services.
Philippe Paparin (41), a bus driver and former policeman from Marseille, said he approached the company confident that his six years’ experience driving in a major French urban area would see his application accepted.
However, after what he described as positive engagement with recruiters for the bus firm, he was refused on the ground that he did not have a permanent address.
Mr Paparin drove from Marseille to Inverness where he said he dreams to settle down with his wife Sabrina (41) and his son Lorenzo (19) and had been living in an Airbnb while searching for a job.
He was told by the company he would need a permanent address so it could do background checks due to the role involving school contract work.
“Unfortunately, due to the individual’s specific circumstances in having no current permanent address, the application and appropriate checks could not be progressed further.”
He said: “When I arrived in Inverness, I thought I should apply for a bus driver position as Stagecoach was looking for drivers, and having heard from a friend that there was a drivers shortage in the city.
“So I went to the Stagecoach depot and the person who saw my CV was interested in my profile and decided to contact his superior by phone.
“He then invited me to go to Inverness bus station to meet the training manager there, and it all seemed to go very well.
“My English is not perfect but we understood each other and laughed during the interview, and although I am missing some words, I am very determined to move here so I will learn them.
“He asked me if I lived in Inverness, I told him I was renting an Airbnb at £650-a-week and that I needed a job to be able to rent a flat or a house and have a fixed address.
“He asked me for all the documents to be sent to his email and he said that there should be no problem and that he would contact me by email to confirm.”
Mr Paparin was eventually notified that he would not be recruited as they had selected other candidates “whose skills and experience more closely matched” what they were looking for.
“I find this strange, because I had explained my situation,” he said.
“I don’t understand their position, unless they are patriotic or don’t have a neutral position on Brexit?”
Mr Paparin said he had been preparing for the move here for two years, since applying for pre-settled status in 2020, which he obtained in 2021 and would have allowed him to enter and remain in the UK for work until 2026.
He said: “Once you arrive in Scotland to find a job they ask you for a permanent address, but as you have just arrived, having a home is complicated, especially as to rent a home they ask you for three payslips.
“Therefore, to work you need a home, and to have a home you need three payslips. It’s like a dog biting its own tail.
“My thoughts are for all those people who have no means of transport and who will still face issues due to the lack of drivers.”
The decision has prompted Mr Paparin to return to France but he insisted he will try again next year.
A Stagecoach Highlands spokesman said: “We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds to work with us, including whether they have an existing licence to drive buses or not.
“As we operate school contracts on behalf of Highland Council, all prospective drivers are required to submit to a mandatory Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme check. This process, which is managed by Disclosure Scotland, requires any candidate to supply previous address information for up to five years.
“The rules are designed to allow for a thorough background check to be carried out to ensure individuals are suitable to operate contracted services carrying young or vulnerable passengers.
“Unfortunately, due to the individual’s specific circumstances in having no current permanent address, the application and appropriate checks could not be progressed further.”
