Taxi Driver Online

And that's been the case for 100s of years, and will remain the case for 100s of years.

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IDFIMH

Caused by the we always use you brigade but its only once a year at Christmas.

Nice to see taxpayers' money being used to recruit new rental fodder for operators


Get funding for a taxi licence in Hull as authorities target driver shortage

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hu ... es-6676424

A new taxi driving course coming to Hull will be shorter and cheaper

The Department of Work and Pensions and Hull City Council are putting in place new plans to get more people into taxi driving to try and solve the shortage of drivers in the city.

Taxi firms in Hull are struggling to meet demand from people out at the weekend, causing long delays to journeys.

Members of the industry in the city have complained about the battle to recruit workers, which has left them contending with demand surges at peak times, made worse after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many drivers found alternative employment during the pandemic and never returned to the sector and now the council alongside the DWP are searching for ways to entice new drivers.

The council has plans to bring all training in-house through the Hull City Learning and Development Service and the DWP are offering funding for those considering taking up a license.

In a review of industry training, the council has previously heard the cost of the current course, which Hull drivers have been required to do since 2013, could be creating barriers to people entering the trade.

Councillors heard plans during a licensing committee on Monday that would see training brought in-house and streamlined, as well as being offered at a reduced price.

The course will cover regulations, licensing conditions, equality and working with disabled customers, as well as health and safety and what to do in an emergency.

Speakers would also be invited to talk to applicants about specialist topics and those who pass would be given a certificate with support for trainees struggling with certain modules.

The new course, due to start in June 2022, will be free for the first six months before a £100 fee is introduced (compared to the £400 it currently costs).

Alongside this the DWP have announced that they are currently working with the council the help those thinking of becoming taxi drivers with the licensing fees.

Sarah Blackwell Employer Engagement Manager in Hull said: "Taxi driving is a big one for us at the moment as there is a recognised shortage of drivers in the area.

"We've been working with those in the industry and one thing they identified to us was that the licensing fees were something that often put off new drivers.

"For that reason we have found funding to be able to help people with those fees if this is an area they think they would be interested in.

"This is something that came off the back of conversations that we've been having with the city council to help get business back to the levels they were before the pandemic and part of that is making sure people can get to and from the city."

Despite the recruitment drive, there are concerns over the safety of customers, particularly the elderly, vulnerable, disabled and women taking taxis at night with the new 'fast-track' courses.

Additionally Magus Murray, a taxi driver and secretary of the Humber Taxi Association, said shortages were being caused because drivers were not willing to work for less.

He said in January: "The new course isn't going to solve the problem, public protection will be put at risk."

But surely if the streets are paved with gold the world and his wife will be queuing up to join the trade.

Or maybe, just maybe, people are talking a load of old bollocks.

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IDFIMH