NORTHERN Lincolnshire's vital logistics industry has received a skills boost after Regional Growth Fund money was used to train up job seekers to help fill a driver shortage.
A total of 60 people have been involved in the first phase of the scheme, and the first has just secured his full licence – and a job – with Grimsby's Quayside Distribution.
John had been unemployed for ten years, but with a shortage of drivers, has found work immediately, having now passed his category CE (articulated lorry) test, and Driver's Certificate Of Professional Competence.
He said: "It was great to get a job at the end of it all. I thought it would be another Christmas on the dole.
"I'm married with three children so it was very important to get working.
"I tried every angle to get a job, but the longer I was unemployed, the harder and harder it has been. When this scheme was offered, I snapped it up."
The 43-year-old, who used to reline furnaces, took his first 44-tonne articulated lorry out on a run between Grimsby and Immingham, and was looking forward to some longer haul work.
Ben Wood, project manager at Grimsby's JobcentrePlus, said: "There are two key objectives – to support the logistics industry by easing the LGV driver skills shortage, to support unemployed claimants into good-quality jobs.
"On the current scheme we have around 60 learners, 20 in North Lincolnshire and 40 in North East Lincolnshire. All learners have a job lined up for them and the direct employers working with us include Quayside, DSV, East Transportation Ltd, Exceed Logistics, Handtrans, Fenwick Brothers, Clugston and George Revill Haulage.
"This group of 60 have been funded from a portion of the £30 million Regional Growth Fund award that North East Lincolnshire Council are the accountable body for."
MAL Training, the contracted training provider, was praised for the hard work, with Mr Wood stating it had "made a very good attempt at delivering a very challenging programme".
North East Lincolnshire Council arranged the funding and procured the practical training. It also arranged work placements and continues to support candidates until they enter employment on completion of the training.
With the biggest freight port in Britain at Immingham, and Grimsby growing as a huge car terminal, the requirement for drivers is unflinching.
Councillor Ray Oxby, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: "This is excellent news. This has been a fantastic scheme with Job Centre Plus, making sure we're supporting the logistics industry and helping claimants into jobs. Jointly, we've been working hard with employers to make sure all successful learners on this programme have a guaranteed job at the end of it, and it's great to see John come through his tests with flying colours and on the road with Quayside."This article was first published in December's Business Telegraph, available as an eBook here.
