This one's fourth month's old, so nothing new about this.
But wasn't aware of this particular angle, and only came across this while looking at today's article about the knowledge
At least the college manages to outdo Uber in the BS stakes
Exclusive: Uber runs Aberdeen training camp to boost driver numbers
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... -aberdeen/
The ride-hailing firm has been working with NESCol since September to deliver a course for its drivers, with a P&J Freedom of Information request revealing details of the scheme...
Uber has been running its own courses at an Aberdeen college in a bid to train up would-be drivers and enhance its city fleet.
A P&J Freedom of Information request has revealed that the ride-hailing firm have been working alongside North East Scotland College (Nescol) to deliver a course designed to get more Uber drivers passing the Street Knowledge Test.
The contentious exam has been been a hot topic in the city’s industry for years, with the quiz being amended last year after it emerged that only a minority were ever able to pass it.
There are moves afoot to potentially axe the requirement for private hire drivers, picking up customers for trips.
Uber would like to see this change, but has been making efforts of its own to boost its ranks in the meantime.
For the past five months, the Californian firm has been delivering specialised training to its new drivers to help them ace the Street Knowledge Test.
Why does Uber need its own Street Knowledge Test course?
Uber have long campaigned for the Street Knowledge Test to be scrapped for those wishing to join the firm in Aberdeen.
Ride-hailing chiefs have argued that the exam is an antiquated barrier to entry for prospective drivers, and have asked if Edinburgh and Glasgow don’t require one, why does Aberdeen?
But the controversial quiz has divided those at the top of the trade, with traditional taxi chiefs warning that, if binned, it could lead to the “erosion” of the industry.
The test was rejigged at the end of 2024, which led to more drivers passing the exam.
And a huge shake-up is now on the cards, as councillors could vote to start of the process of getting rid of it for private hire drivers.
If pushed through, the formal public consultation would run from February to March, with results expected to be shared in May.
But new information has revealed the details of Uber’s college course…
How did Uber’s Street Knowledge Test course come about?
An FOI request has mapped out exactly how the California-based firm has been training its drivers to hit the streets of Aberdeen.
The Press and Journal has uncovered a summary of the email chain between the college and the private hire firm as they came together to create the course.
Uber has been working with the college to get budding drivers through the gruelling revision required to pass the Street Knowledge Test.
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- - The course was in the process of being designed at the start of September last year, with ride-hailing bosses putting together a presentation to show to new candidates on how to enter the trade.
- They also “advised” on the current pass levels of the Street Knowledge Test.
- It was clarified that the next test would be four weeks away, with 20 first-time participants and five re-sits booked.
- By the end of September, they had agreed on the areas of the exam that needed “the most focus”.
- A few weeks on from this, Uber chiefs told the college that they were looking to start off with 10 potential drivers for the pilot scheme.
An email also confirmed that there were “no entry requirements for those attending” the course, but that the college were “seeking to confirm the English language skills level”.
And following two months of back-and-forth emails between the private hire company and the college, the four-day course kicked off at the end of November.
An exact figure of attendees is unknown, but the FOI reveals that it was “confirmed” that the “potential list of candidates” stood at 14, with Uber hoping to add an extra five to this.
Nescol and Uber had been in contact over “daily de-briefs” of how each day of the course progressed.
‘We will look to opening Street Knowledge Test course to public’
Responding to these talks being made public, the college’s assistant principal of curriculum and commercial development, Duncan Abernethy, said that the course could end up being opened to the public.
Mr Abernethy told The P&J: “Following discussions with Uber, we were able to deliver to a cohort of prospective drivers as a pilot.
“The workforce development team is able to tailor provision to bridge specific gaps and the partnership with Uber is a good example of that approach in action.
“Nescol has long-standing expertise in personal and professional development and the team has a focus on building strong, collaborative partnerships with industry.”
He added that the college is “committed to innovating and developing our offer across every sector”, and that this course “will be developed further, with a view to opening up to any individual or company to book places”.
Meanwhile, an Uber spokesperson told The P&J: “There is a long-standing and well-documented shortage of drivers in the city, and the Street Knowledge test remains a huge factor in that.
“We’ve been working with Nescol to help people study for the test and have the best chance of passing.
“This not only creates an opportunity for people to become local drivers and have a new earning opportunity, it also helps meet the huge demand from local people for safe, affordable rides.”