Tag: jobs|road transport|training

DHL Supply Chain has announced Driving Ambition, a new training programme which aims to tackle the national driver shortage in the UK with a long-term solution by providing fully funded training for applicants to qualify as LGV drivers.

The Driving Ambition programme removes a key barrier to a career in logistics by providing company-funded driver training, opening a door to an industry that has proved itself essential during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the main aims of the programme is to encourage a wider pool of diverse candidates to consider a driving career.

Driving Ambition offers candidates free driver training worth up to £3,000 to obtain either a Category C licence (Class 2) to drive rigid trucks, or licences C and E (Class 1) to drive artics.

Ian Clough, MD Transport at DHL Supply Chain UK, said: “The supply chain industry is facing a huge shortage of drivers. One of the most important steps we can take to solve this for the long-term starts at grass roots by encouraging and enabling people to pursue a career in logistics. By investing in someone’s future, and offering them the opportunity to be trained and ultimately become a qualified LGV driver, we’re hoping to attract as broad an audience as possible.

“New recruits will be welcomed into the wonderfully diverse DHL family and we’re very much encouraging applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as those underrepresented in the industry, such as women and the ex-military.”

Roads Minister Baroness Vere added: “This is a fantastic initiative and I fully support DHL as they encourage UK workers to kick-start a rewarding and lucrative career in our vitally important road haulage industry. We will continue to do all we can to help industry leaders boost driver recruitment numbers, improve job opportunities right across the country, and address the problems caused by this global issue.”

Recognising the need to create a long-term flow of driver candidates, Marks & Spencer has backed the programme and is inviting colleagues and partners to take part in the opportunity to retrain.

The programme is open to anyone looking to become an LGV driver, or those wanting to upskill from a Class 2 licence to a Class 1 and step into one of DHL’s 1,000 training vacancies. Driver roles will be available across the UK, with dedicated transport training centres in the South East, Avonmouth, Crick, Worksop and Bellshill.

As the global logistics leader, DHL is committed to offering rewarding, flexible, long-term career opportunities for the widest possible range of people. The programme is a fantastic opportunity for veterans, school leavers and career changers looking for their next challenge.

Robert Boateng, 59, from London, has recently completed Driving Ambition and is now a qualified LGV driver: “I used to drive vans but I wanted to have a specialist qualification and develop a career. The programme is really good – you get lots of support, so I’d recommend it to anyone else thinking about a career change.”

The programme has been trialled with internal candidates and to date 250 people have completed the training programme. All new employees will be invited to join DHL’s pension scheme, along with accessing a range of exclusive wellbeing benefits such as mortgage advice, online tutoring for kids and a free online GP service, plus retail and supermarket discounts of up to 10%.

As part of its aspiration to achieve zero-emissions logistics by 2050, the company is investing in the latest low emissions trucks and recently opened its industry-leading Transport Development Centre at Crick to teach safe, environmentally responsible driving techniques.

The founder of Midlands-based flooring manufacturer and retail firm Factory Direct Flooring (FDF) is calling on the UK logistics sector to generate more creative ways to attract and retain drivers and workers.

Amid news of tactics such as sign-up and retention bonuses, and mammoth apprenticeship schemes, Paul Hambidge of FDF is applauding these efforts and calls on firms to continue in this vein.

While the hospitality and fast-food sector supply challenges have been highlighted in the media recently, stock across a wide number of sectors has become harder to obtain and shipping costs are spiralling. The current supply issues are affecting businesses like FDF, which supplies to the home improvements, renovation and developer markets, and is having a serious knock-on effect to tradespeople, main contractors and homeowners.

FDF is in a strong position due to its move to a larger warehouse earlier this year – which has allowed it to increase stockholding and strategically manage longer manufacturing and shipping lead times – but Hambidge says fresh, homegrown solutions to supply chain issues are needed fast to ensure businesses remain viable. Being tactically inventive to attract the workers needed will not only help to keep many UK SMEs afloat, but it will also ensure consumers aren’t forced to bear the brunt of the ongoing global challenges.

Hambidge – whose Nuneaton-based firm FDF supplies flooring products including Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT), laminate and engineered wood – warns that the current scenario of supply chain issues, coupled with lower product supplies from the east and Europe is making availability of products for the trade and developer, and consumer markets, significantly lower and notably more expensive.

The challenges, due to various issues caused by the pandemic and Brexit, are being further exacerbated by container shipping cost hikes and transport issues as a result of truck driver shortages, as well as the postponement of HGV lessons and tests during lockdown.

Hambidge explains: “Just as it has been heavily reported recently that many sectors such as food are experiencing supply issues that are impacting consumers, this is also happening in many other industries including ours. From building supplies through to home interiors products, a shortage of these items has a real knock on effect. The issues are now affecting tradesmen who can’t get hold of products to complete domestic or commercial jobs, which could severely affect people’s livelihoods. Subsequently the UK economy is going to suffer once again.”

FDF moved to a 40% larger warehouse earlier this year to be able to facilitate a 50% increase in stock holding.

“We’re in as good a position as we can be to weather this storm. But the truth is that this storm isn’t likely to blow over any time soon. There’s no quick fix, no real solution on the horizon and the situation will definitely get worse before it gets better. Transport, warehouse and logistics providers must innovate to tackle the current issues to avoid a catastrophe,” he added.

The logiastics industry’s driver shortfall is estimated by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) to stand at 100,000 drivers, and an existing ageing workforce means around a third of the 380,000 drivers in the UK is predicted to retire within the next five years.

Hambidge concluded: “It’s a worrying picture for businesses like ours, as transport costs are rising because of demand, so we’re paying around seven per cent more with some transport carriers. It’s just not sustainable.”