The latest twist in the Hull BTEC saga.
Recall that to get a badge in Hull you need the BTEC qualification. Also recall several articles from Hull PH operators complaining they couldn't get enough drivers, and blaming the BTEC. They then launched their own version of the BTEC.
In the thread title I've highlighted the possibility that the council might consider scrapping the BTEC requirement altogether. Don't know if that's a realistic possibility or whether the council's paper has just mentioned that because they're duty bound to cover all the bases, but it's certainly been suggested.
Lots of posts in this thread about it for anyone unfamiliar with it all:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34195&p=392358Future of Hull learner taxi drivers in doubt as training course is scrappedhttps://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hu ... es-4007671Last year the Humber Taxi Association launched the same BTEC level 2 qualificationThe future of a training course for would-be taxi and hackney carriage drivers in Hull is in doubt.
For the last seven years anyone applying for a new licence from Hull City Council has been required to complete a BTEC level 2 qualification.
It involves 150 hours of home revision based on a 175-page training document followed by a three-day intensive course.
Issues covered include literacy and numeracy as well as knowledge of the city’s roads and neighbourhoods.
Hull was one of the first licensing authorities in the country to introduce it and was praised at the time for attempting to drive up standards in the industry.
However, the awarding body used by the council has announced it is withdrawing the qualification at the end of April.
Last year the Hull-based Humber Taxi Association launched the same course using the same awarding body and a local training provider at a centre off Hessle Road.
Now councillors on the city’s licensing committee are being asked whether they want to continue with a similar qualification through another awarding body.
Licensing manager Keith Fenner said there were several awarding bodies offering similar Level 2 qualifications.
He added: “Enquiries are ongoing regarding the provision of the qualification and whether they have approved learning centres across the country.
“However, to date it has not been fully established how many there are in our local area.”
In a report to next week’s committee, Mr Fenner suggests one option would be to suspend the requirement for the qualification until a clearer picture emerges.
Another option would be to scrap the requirement to have the qualification altogether as part of the council’s licensing conditions.
At the same meeting, councillors will also be asked to approve a range of changes to current conditions covering existing taxi and hackney carriage drivers and operators in Hull as well as new applicants.
They include proposals to increase the age limit on electric vehicles being used as taxis or hackney carriages from ten to 14 years.
The move is aimed at promoting the use of more environmentally-friendly vehicles within the city’s taxi trade.
Another new rule says taxi operators, drivers or anyone connected with a business must not refuse a booking or discriminate against a customer on the grounds of their gender, age, marital status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, race or ethnic origin.
An accompanying report says: “The changes have been proposed to ensure that the public are protected from any kind of discrimination and operators are suitably prepared to process complaints.”
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