Business Support Business Support Pointing your company in the right direction for success
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce delivers a number of programmes designed to help businesses realise their growth aspirations. It can also help identify other schemes that may be applicable to your particular industry.
CONTACT: Growth Hub T: 0800 032 3488 Lorry start-up on the right road By Jon Griffin
Transport veteran Neil Thomas has launched his own HGV training firm – as the UK faces a chronic shortage of up to 60,000 lorry drivers. Neil, aged 58, is the brains behind Blue
Triangle Training, a new initiative based at Garretts Green which aims to provide all the tuition necessary for drivers keen to take their HGV/LGV licences. The training firm has been launched amid a
growing nationwide crisis over driver shortages, with recent warnings that under-investment in HGV driving skills had led to a heavy reliance on recruits from other European countries. The Road Haulage Association has said that
the current 45,000 driver shortfall will increase to 60,000 within 12 months if the crisis is not addressed. The RHA has said that funding of up to £3,000 per person should be made available and paid directly to the thousands of hauliers desperate for drivers. Neil, who has spent his whole working career
in the transport sector, said: “Driving is a demanding and stressful job. There are more vehicles on the road and, at the end of the day, good professional training initially as well as the periodic drivers CPC, professional driver will help keep our roads safer.
‘As the older drivers come up to retirement or leave the industry there is not a lot of funding for employers or apprenticeships schemes to help replace them’
“In 2013, there were 25 per cent fewer new driver licence acquisitions than there were in 2008 – 25 per cent less were taking their test.” He said the industry was also facing increased
legislation and regulation, with drivers having to undertake 35 hours training over a five year period to maintain their Certificate of Professional Competence. “There are a lot of older drivers out there who
have been doing the job for 30 to 40 years and do not want to have to go and sit in a classroom and are saying ‘do I really want to give up my time to do this?” Neil’s wife Mary, who is helping her husband
with the administrative side of the business, said: “As the older drivers come up to retirement or
Road worthy: Neil Thomas hands over a certificate to trainee Christian Higgins
leave the industry there is not a lot of funding for employers or apprenticeships schemes to help replace them. “If you look at the amount of heavy goods
vehicles on the road, caused by seven-days-a- week shopping with more and more stores opening later and companies operating a just in time procedure, there are more drivers needed. “There are good training companies out there
but we believe with the shortage of DVSA examiners causing a backlog in HGV practical tests nationwide as well as the shortage of LGV drivers. This, in theory, with fewer drivers coming through the system pushes the annual salary of the driver up making it more inviting for the potential driver, so there should be enough work out there for everyone.” Neil added: “It is early days for the company
but we are looking forward to the future. I have done everything in transport from being a driver to a transport manager and nine years as a HGV driver training manager. The experience is all there which can be passed on to trainees.”
Blue Triangle Training can be contacted on 0121-
789-9933 or email
info@bluetriangletraining.co.uk See
www.hgvtrainingbirmingham.co.uk for
more details. The Start and Grow programme provides a
range of pre and post-start support to individuals looking to start a business. Clients must have aspiration and the capability to make the business a success. The programme is available to those looking
to start a business which expects to employ people from its early stages and where start-up financing will be required to get the venture off the ground. The support provided is tailored to the individual needs of the owner and the business idea, but will include one to one support and advice, workshops and training, mentoring and help finding funding.
For more information contact Anabela Ferreira, Head of Enterprise at Greater Birmingham Chambers, on 0121-450-4235.
June 2016 CHAMBERLINK5
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