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Knights of Old gets creative

22nd August 2013, Page 38
22nd August 2013
Page 38
Page 38, 22nd August 2013 — Knights of Old gets creative
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

with its recruitment methods

KNIGHTS OF OLD has been addressing the looming driver shortage by partnering with a local enterprise partnership to offer young unemployed people the opportunity to train to become an LGV driver.

Last year, Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP) brought together Knights of Old, the local Jobcentre Plus, and Tresham College to run a scheme aimed at finding suitable candidates to undergo LGV driver training.

Ten candidates underwent the two-week logistics work academy, with three progressing to obtain their LGV licences and being taken on by Knights of Old. Last week, a further 12 candidates completed the academy training.

"As an industry we have to get creative with our recruitment; we can't rely on the same methods all the time," said Nick Bithell, HR manager at Knights of Old.

"This scheme is great because we're doing our bit to get people back to work in the local area and for us; [and] we get new drivers who we can mould into our kind of driver."

The work academy element is funded via Jobcentre Plus. "A sector-based work academy is a Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] funded scheme offered via Jobcentre Plus to help job seekers claiming benefits get back to work," explained Jo Stewart, job broker for NEP.

"It must include pre-employment training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview, and usually lasts two weeks."

In this instance, delivery of the training is split between Thresham College and Knights of Old. "Week one at Thresham College delivers warehousing and customer service training, and then week two they spend on site with us, going through a long driver induction, covering

topics such as drivers' hours and walk-around checks," said Bithell.

At the end of the academy, Knights of Old interviews the candidates and selects those with the right skills and aptitude to become LGV drivers.

"First time around we found that even if people had the desire and willingness to be an LGV driver, sadly, not everyone could make it because of the theory test and the demands of the industry, so we've tried to make the preemployment training more industry-specific this time," said Stewart.

"We included some questions that you'd be expected to know for your LGV theory and put in more logistics-specific units," she added.

The funding to train for the LGV licences is through the DWP and is secured as a result of guaranteed job offers by Knights of Old, for individuals who complete the training. In addition, Knights of Old is hoping to offer some trainee roles to candidates aged 18 to 24 who are eligible for the government's Wage Incentive Scheme. "Wage incentives are avail

able to employers who take on an unemployed 18 to 24 year old in a job lasting more than 26 weeks. For full-time work, the wage incentive is £2,275, which is paid 26 weeks after the employee starts work," said Stewart.

"At Knights of Old, the intention is to develop an intense training programme for these young jobseekers. This will enable them to learn about the business and, after six months, the incentive payment will be used to fund their LGV training."

The NEP's role is to act as a job broker and "bring the relevant agencies together and package everything for the employer", she added.

"If there are other haulage companies in the area that would like to work with us, please get in touch.

"There is a lot of available funding out there and we can take away the pain and time of sifting through the red tape," said Stewart.

• Companies interested in joining forces with NEP's Job Broker service should contact Jo Stewart on 01604 609 395 or Jo.Stewart@ northamptonshireep.co.uk.


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