Despite the immense efforts made by officials to address driver shortages in the UK logistics industry, issues persist. While the United Kingdom has an overall logistics employment crisis, multiple industry vacancies continue to strain the sector. Data suggests that HGV driver numbers dropped from 304,000 in 2019/20 to 275,000 in March 2021. This clearly demonstrates that a once popular sector in the UK is now struggling to attract interest from new talent.
Insite Training contributes with its well strategised programs. This training centre focuses on drawing fresh talent and those in mid career transition. This initiative features local training support powered by tech driven tools, which will lead to licensing.
Gary B, CEO at Insite Training expressed his vision A better future is definitely on the horizon, but there’s no magic solution that will work overnight. However, consistent efforts in the form of structured training will definitely yield future proof results. accessible training programs, along with supporting government policies, will be a game changer for UK logistics”
Pain Points of the Current Shortage Scenario
Several factors come into play while analyzing the current driver crisis in the UK. A few of them are listed below:
- Ageing Workforce: The once employed workforce mostly belongs to an age ranging between 48 to 53. The sector faces two challenges, first, the ageing population are on the verge of retirement or have already retired. Second, challenging to keep up with technology transitions. Modern vehicles are now equipped with top of the line, on road safety features with new operational technology. Without proper training, mastering the new world has become a challenge for the ageing workforce.
- Impact of Brexit and Worsening Effects of COVID-19: Following Brexit, many EU drivers left, while pandemic related issues caused delays in driver testing and training. Due to Brexit and the pandemic, the backlogs in licensing and testing have delayed newcomers’ entry into the field.
- Poor Salary and Working Conditions: Wage stagnation and uncertain work hours also contributed to driver turnover. While this negatively motivates on the job drivers to leave the profession, it also hinders new talent from joining the workforce. Afterall, unlike the veterans, the new generation workforce prioritizes a healthy balance between personal comfort and professional commitment.
Insite’s Efforts to Address the Crisis
With an aim to address the driver shortage crisis, Insite Training ensures that the training imparted is future ready. Initiatives such as the UK government investing over £10 million in supporting training drivers to get access to training institutes.
Furthermore, Insite’s innovative programs are geared to welcome fresh drivers to join the workforce. With UK government support, the company aims to launch flexible and well-funded training program. These programs will include theoretical knowledge, practical training and more. Newer programs target technology familiarity and empower drivers with simulators, automated vehicle knowledge and software insights.
Shaping a Resilient Logistics Future
The growth of e commerce and customer standards is scaling high and so is the demand for qualified HGV drivers. Indeed, there are hurdles impacting the full fledged efficiency of the logistics sector, the right investments made today can pave the way for a secure future. With best in class training models, community focused strategies, and government collaborations, Insite aims to contribute to a more resilient supply chain in the UK by preparing a solid workforce.
