FTA welcomes government report on transport sector skills shortages16 January 2015

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is welcoming a report from the All Party Parliamentary Group on Freight Transport, which echoes its call for student loan style funding to attract more young people into the sector.

The report, 'Barriers to Youth Employment in the Freight Transport Sector', highlights the growing problem of driver shortages and says that loans for vocational training should be implemented.

Career opportunities within the sector are not widely recognised, says the report, and issues relating to training and funding, costs of insuring young people and poor facilities are all contributing to the problem.

In particular, it states, if young females are to consider driving as a career, then companies and government must work together to address the lack of facilities, such as stopover sites.

Sally Gilson, FTA's skills policy development manager, says: "The APPG report shows that there is work to be done engaging with young people. The industry needs to work with government to provide clear career opportunities."

The report also noted that most people under the age of 25 in the industry are managers or directors, with only 2% of this age group working as HGV drivers. In contrast, 60% of those aged over 45 are drivers.

Author
Laura Cork

Related Companies
Freight Transport Association Ltd

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