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Recruiting drivers for haulage work can be a difficult and time-consuming process, partly because the job requires a £2,500 HGV licence. With the demand for goods vehicle drivers increasing rapidly, it is now more important than ever that haulage companies have a sufficient number of employees. If only there was a way to find people looking for haulage work and train them for free… There is! Luckily for employers out there, a recent partnership has an answer to this lack of transport workers. The RHA has teamed up with logistics recruitment specialist Driver Hire, and together they’re training up a new generation of people for haulage work. New Opportunities Many employees from the oil and gas industry in Scotland have been made redundant or threatened with redundancy over the last few years, and have been struggling to find new work in the area. The training programme gives these workers the opportunity to launch a new career in transport, and the funding from the Transition Training Fund provides an additional incentive. Gaining new skills and accessing free training that supports a completely new career path is an incredible prospect for unemployed people, and one that has been very well-received. So far, the training programme has been relatively effective, with 66 drivers successfully completing their training and several going on to find full-time work. The RHA are hopeful that this positive response will continue as job opportunities in the oil and gas sector diminish. Requirements There are several requirements for those who wish to complete the free course and it is imperative that all of these requirements are fulfilled by the trainees before any work is found for them. • You must have lost your job or be threatened with redundancy in the oil and gas sector or its supply chain. • Your job loss or redundancy threat must have been since the year 2015. • You must be a resident in Scotland. • You must be actively seeking employment and able to provide evidence that the training will help you to find a new job. For employers, the scheme provides the perfect solution: trained workers ready and willing to start on the job in haulage work. Bringing more people into the industry is always a great boost, so having an influx this large will hugely benefit local transport and delivery businesses. Extras As well as the extensive driving course, the scheme also offers free training in driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence), transport management and safety. This free training is all available until the end of this year. The Hiring Process and a Happy Ending Once the training is complete, the Driver Hire offices in Aberdeen and Inverness take the drivers onto their books and are soon able to find them work. Though the position often starts out as temporary, many employers tend to offer workers a permanent role eventually. It’s a win-win situation all round – well done Scotland! Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage work with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships
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