Back
1.
June
2017.
RTITB Calls on Telford Businesses to Help Fight LGV Driver Shortage
June 2017
RTITB Calls on Telford Businesses to Help Fight LGV Driver Shortage
Telford-based RTITB is urging local businesses to help tackle the skills shortage within the transport, logistics and manufacturing sector by investing in training.
“The UK logistics industry is facing a massive shortage of skilled staff, such as LGV drivers,” explains Laura Nelson, Managing Director of local company RTITB, the UK’s leading workplace transport training accrediting body.
“With around 85% of all goods consumed within the UK transferred via our roads, there are not enough drivers to meet the current demands of the economy,” Laura continues. “Telford and the surrounding area is home to many manufacturing, logistics and transport operations who need to address this.”
Around 40,000 drivers alone are estimated to leave the industry this year due to retirement. According to RTITB, Telford businesses can tackle this by retaining existing employees for longer and attracting new talent.
“Young people in Telford should have the opportunity to join a thriving industry,” says Laura. “However, despite LGV driving being a highly skilled job with opportunity for career progression, logistics and road haulage is rarely considered an attractive career option for young people.”
RTITB wants to educate other firms in the local area about how they can incentivise a young workforce to join the industry, whilst also reaping the benefits for their own business.
“It’s crucial that we all work together to help boost the number of active drivers and other key staff in the industry. This can be achieved easily through training,” says Laura. “When an employer offers in-house Trainers, or works in partnership with a local training provider, it can help to incentivise workers to earn a reputable qualification and become an integral part of the operation.”
According to RTITB, employers should also use the government apprenticeship levy, which has recently come into force, to their advantage.
“Investing apprenticeship levy funds into training will help businesses continue to flourish and keep safety at the forefront,” Laura explains. “It is a fantastic investment which will enable businesses to take full control of their training funds and help secure their future.”
With RTITB, the leading workplace transport training accrediting body, on their doorstep at Halesfield, Telford, logistics businesses in Shropshire area can receive all the support they need to improve their in-house training offering via the RTITB Instructor Academy. For more information or advice, visit www.rtitb.co.uk, email solutions@rtitb.co.uk or call +44(0)1952 520 207.
ENDS
390 WORDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
RTITB sets industry leading training standards specifically designed to change behaviour and make measurable improvements to efficiency, risk and safety.
As the preferred regulatory body for workplace transport training, our accreditation, audit, certification and instructor training services are reliable, robust and developed by a team dedicated to the common goal of keeping people safe.
We set training standards for goods vehicle driver licence acquisition training, driver assessment, Driver CPC Periodic Training, yardshunter training, banksman training, and all types of materials handling equipment: making us the only company able to provide absolute assurance for a full range of workplace transport training.
Our training standards are used extensively in the UK, Ireland, India and the Middle East, across a number of sectors: supply chain, freight forwarding, warehousing, road haulage distribution, oil and gas, food and drink manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, cold chain, ports, and airports and public sector organisations such as councils and prisons.
Established in 1965 and with over 50 years' experience, RTITB is the regulatory body of choice for businesses committed to safety and efficiency. Since inception well over 1 million people have attended RTITB courses. Since 2014, more than 268,000 delegates have been trained to RTITB standards.
Visit www.rtitb.co.uk for further information.