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Jamie Oliver has the right idea

11th December 2003
Page 26
Page 26, 11th December 2003 — Jamie Oliver has the right idea
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I HAVE READ with interest the continuing saga of driver shortages and how the industry will grind to a halt in 2005 if we do not act now. How the digital tacho and the training directive will only add to our woes. What do we do as an industry to help ourselves? Some operators are looking to recruit in Eastern Europe. which is very patriotic. Look a little deeper and you'll see agencies that are looking to do this as well.

The government has the answer "Let's give millions of pounds to various projects and that will sort it."The only people that will be sorted are the fund managers and trainers. Ask any 45 to 50-year-old driver if he is interested in gaining an NVQ 2 in the trade he has worked in for 25 years and cover your ears for the reply. Ask how many drivers who have been forced to sit and watch a video of how to change gear and use the brakes properly to save fuel whether it's been any use and you'll get a similar response.! certainly did.

Our industry is struggling due to lack of new blood. yet we still do not have an apprenticeship we can offer to a school leaver so that s/he knows in two/three years' time after leaving school s/he can drive an HGV legally on the road. If we do not get them at this age we lose them altogether as they have usually trained to do something else.

We need these school leavers to be recruited into the industry while still in the last few years of their schooling. Take them to foundation colleges where they will learn this industry in depth, and they will comp] an ADR, fork-lift licence, licence, Cl licence and so ( They will spend time on th road, double-manned witl perienced drivers, in trans] offices, admin department and warehouses.

What we will end up with as our company is experieni ing now, are highly compete young men and women whi willing and able to do the work the industry ne Further to this, by using the ground work pi place by the Young Driver Scheme, these driN are tied to their companies until at least 21 so long-term prospects can be looked at.

Until the money continually wasted on has brained schemes like training experienced dr ers to NVQ level 2 is put to bed and re-invest( in young receptive minds, we in this industry I continue to harp on about how hard done by are.but have done nothing to put it right.

So let's drop the Learning and Skills Coune (not a penny has been seen of their money in industry), the RIEVIF, (training in fuel consun tion reduction) and Skills for Logistics.

Let's bring on the 'Jamie Oliver' school of young HGV drivers. I believe the Learning at Skills Council has now removed any funding from logistics industry training providers and it in the hands of local colleges, which is an ide opportunity for them to provide what we nee young, fully trained drivers.

Colin Snape

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Organisations: Skills Council

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