Bus drivers in the West Midlands are being encouraged by their employers to learn better language skills, according to a report.
Drivers of buses in the Midlands have enrolled on NVQ courses to learn better English skills.
They have been at the centre of local complaints about their poor language skills.
According to the Express and Star newspaper, a passenger forum run by Centro, the organisation responsible for bus, rail and Midland Metro Tram transport in the West Midlands, received many complaints about them being "unable to communicate".
It explained that not enough English speakers were applying for driving jobs and local bus companies were interested in getting more of their employees on language training schemes, like the NVQs.
David Reeves, managing director of D&G Coach and Bus company, told the newspaper: "I would like to recruit more drivers with better English but it is not an ideal world.
"While it is important bus drivers have a good standard of communication the most important thing is that they can drive to a good standard."
>>See how you can develop the English and maths skills of your staff, with online bite size courses from learndirect.