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ALL THE LATEST NEWS, ADVICE AND EVENTS FOR THE SOLIHULL BUSINESS COMMUNITY


A


new European Union driving qualification is set to decimate the ranks of lorry and bus drivers in the UK – but a Solihull distribution company is taking action to beat the threat. The new qualification is the ‘Driver Certificate


of Professional Competence’, which is required by all bus, coach and lorry drivers, in addition to their driving licence. The CPC was introduced four years ago. It was


conceived by European Union bureaucrats and is supposed to improve the knowledge and skills of these professional drivers. However, one of the problems is that it has to


be renewed every five years after 35 hours of approved training, which family-owned Mobile Freight, based at Birmingham Airport’s cargo branch, says is putting drivers off. Mobile’s sales director, Ian Jolly, said that as a


result, the flow of younger drivers coming into the industry is drying up. Also, older drivers are retiring rather than face the cost, which can be up to £225 per driver plus the loss of the driver for five days in getting a CPC and keeping it up to date.


He said: “As a business we have been growing


rapidly in the last 12 months, adding new customers and partnerships. “This has been fantastic in terms of sales


figures and market growth, but we have one big problem – a major shortage of HGV drivers.


‘Mobile decided to tackle the problem by setting up its own apprentice driver scheme’


“The main factor for this is that young drivers are simply not coming through anymore down to the cost of the licences and having little experience to get a job even if they paid themselves. “However the problem gets worse. With the


new driver CPC legislation beginning to roll out, many older drivers are simply deciding to take early retirement rather than sit through the necessary hours they need to fulfil in order to keep their licence.” Mr Jolly said that many in the trucking industry


Ian Jolly (left) with Justin Pattison who is doing an Advanced Apprenticeship in Logistics Operations


were burying their heads in the sand over the issue, but Mobile had decided to tackle the problem by setting up its own apprentice driver scheme. This has been done in conjunction with North Warwickshire and Hinckley


College, and will see three 21-24-year-old would-be truckers sign up to the ‘intermediate apprenticeship in driving goods vehicles’. After a year, this will lead to employment with the company as truck drivers.


Mr Jolly added: “I know there are probably many larger businesses doing similar schemes but I can’t think of many of our size.” The new apprentice scheme was launched on 1 October and the lucky


apprentices are Michael Stretton Byrne who is training for an intermediate apprenticeship in Driving Goods Vehicles, Scott Turner who is training for an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Driving Goods Vehicles and Justin Pattison who is training for an Advanced Apprenticeship in Logistics Operations.


Outlook for cloud computing


Prime Chartered Accountants is holding a seminar on 8 November to explain the benefits of cloud computing. The seminar will be presented by Prime chairman Laurence Moore, who said: “Over the past couple


of years, we have seen many business owners grasping the benefits the ‘cloud’ offers them, primarily allowing them to work smarter and more efficiently. We use it extensively ourselves. “For example, some businesses use the cloud to better manage their customers and get more sales; others use it to allow them to easily collaborate with partners, customers and suppliers and some, just prefer it because it gives them the flexibility to access information at their convenience via mobile devices rather than waiting until the next time they are in the office.” The free ‘Taste of the Cloud’ seminar will take place at Prime’s Solihull offices in Homer Road.


22 CHAMBERLINK OCTOBER 2012


In the clouds: Laurence Moore


Solihull Chamber of Commerce Wellington House, Starley Way, Birmingham Int. Park, Solihull B37 7HE T: 0121 781 7384 • F: 0121 781 7385 E: info@solihull-chamber.com W: solihull-chamber.com


Firm launches training drive


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