2 Start trains to tackle shortage
Training provider 2 Start Ltd has outlined the impact of a turbulent 2020 on the transport training sector, and explained how it is working to encourage young people into the industry.
“Brexit shortly followed by the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to a decline in employees within the logistics industry,” said Paul Moon, managing director at 2 Start.
“Multiple factors including EU drivers returning home and less uptake in the younger demographic means that there is currently a shortage of around 76,000 workers across the logistics industry.
“Transport of goods and medicines were heavily relied upon during the pandemic and shortages in drivers meant that this was harder for transport companies to move goods around the country. With a high proportion of drivers over the age of 44 and few younger people entering the industry, it is predicted to get worse.”
Multiple Covid-19 lockdowns meant that DVSA LGV tests were cancelled so no newly qualified drivers were entering the industry, Paul added.
“There is currently a backlog of LGV tests and driver training companies are struggling to obtain tests due to limited test examiners. The volumes of tests supplied prior to lockdown were often insufficient to meet demand and it is even more challenging now there is such a backlog of tests,” he said.
“With limited staff and cover in place this makes the challenge even more difficult. It’s students who are losing out, with some already waiting four months to take an LGV test. We have witnessed test centres not being used to capacity, which is frustrating, as this is not helping the wider issue.
“We believe a solution to the DVSA examiner shortage could be to allow training companies with their own approved test centres to train their own examiners and conduct their own tests much in the same way the larger bus companies have been successfully doing for several years.
“Not only would this help with the vocational backlog of tests, it would in turn free examiners to increase the number of car tests to help ease the backlog.”
The company highlights the impact of current long-term unemployment rates on the under 25s, and says it is working with the National Logistics Academy to support young people into careers within the logistics industry.
“We have dedicated support within our training school who liaise with apprentices and carry out their training,” said Paul.
“We also support ELCAS, which is the scheme that assists armed force leavers to gain essential skills and qualifications within logistics to use when they leave the forces.
“We have strong connections with local large businesses, which mean we advertise vacancies on their behalf to our students who have recently passed their LGV licences.”
He continued: “As a mindful training company, we believe in the need to heavily invest in our own staff and training. All our driving instructors are either NRI qualified or working towards their qualification. We encourage our staff to take courses that we offer, with many of them having gained certificates in forklift, PASMA and driver training.
“We have employed apprentices within our administration staff and have supported them through to qualification. They are still working with us and we offer additional training to upskill them.”
