Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham Evening Mail

August 9, 2007, Thursday

Cabbies take caring lessons

BIRMINGHAM'S army of cab drivers will be smiling broadly as they wish you a 'nice day' following the adoption of a new customer care initiative.

The city's first 33 black Hackney Carriage and minicab drivers have passed a pilot training course designed to improve standards in the profession.

After going back into the classroom they learned how to tackle unruly passengers, look after disabled customers and refreshed their knowledge of the law.

The BTEC course, developed by South Birmingham College, Go Skills, and Birmingham City Council was today hailed as a success.

Peter Huntington of Go Skills, said it was about raising professionalism in the hire car industry.

He said: "Cab drivers are a vital part of the transport network and often the first people visitors to Birmingham meet.

"This will raise their profile and hopefully raise their standing among the public."

The first 33 drivers all passed, after completing the 12 week, two hours per week pilot course. Another 50 will follow in the second phase. They could be given a tax disc style quality mark to display in their cars.

Mike Shingler, secretary of the 1,100 strong Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Association passed with flying colours.

He said: "It was strange being back in the classroom. It proved helpful and worthwhile.

"This kind of thing will be compulsory for drivers soon anyway. But while we raise the standards of our drivers, we want more enforcement from the council to run the rogue drivers, who give us a bad name, off the road."

Coun David Osborne, chairman of the Licensing Committee, said: "We work closely with the Hackney carriage and private hire drivers' associations. The aim of this training is to improve the knowledge base of the participants and ultimately improve the standards of drivers in Birmingham."
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