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Logistics UK continues to press government to solve HGV driver crisis
The HGV driver crisis, which has rumbled on throughout the summer, shows no sign of abating.
With an estimated shortage of 90,000 HGV drivers nationally, Logistics UK continues to engage closely with government and push it to act. This includes renewing its call for a temporary work visa for qualified EU nationals, to help reduce the pressure in the short term and allow time for DVSA to catch up with missed driver tests. The business group has also engaged with the Migration Advisory Committee to stress the need for immediate action.
As reported in last week’s Logistics Magazine, Logistics UK has published a free guide – Funding and support for accessing logistics skills, to offer its members free advice and guidance to accompany its recent skills funding webinar, which it ran jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Education.
On the recruitment of fresh talent coming into the industry, the new C+E apprenticeship is now live with an increased funding band of £7,000, following lobbying from Logistics UK. The business group has also urged the government to prolong the £3,000 bonus for recruiting apprenticeships, which is currently due to expire in just six weeks’ time. Looking further ahead, Logistics UK is in talks with the Department for Education on ways to make apprenticeships in England more flexible for members, and is responding to a consultation on the National Skills Fund.
Alex Veitch, General Manager – Public Policy, said: “The skills shortages in the logistics sector remains the key priority for our members and threatens to put the UK’s interconnected supply chains at risk of significant disruption. We are already receiving reports of shortages on supermarket shelves, and a shortage of key raw materials across a number of business sectors, including construction. We will continue to engage closely with government departments and use our access and influence to apply pressure for further action on this most pressing of issues.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/skills
Published On: 19/08/2021 16:00:14
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In brief
DVSA TO HIRE EXTRA DRIVING EXAMINERS
DVSA launched a campaign to recruit additional driving examiners in England and Wales to help reduce the lorry driver shortage this week (16 August 2021). Forty new vocational examiners will be recruited in total, made up of existing DVSA employees and external candidates. This is part of the package of measures by government to help address the HGV driver shortage.
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