An hour before I started to write this, I checked LinkedIn and was upset to see a post from Chris Grime who announced his retirement. It was a sad day for me as Chris and the team at the IRTE Northern Centre were the first people to invite me to address the industry when I was appointed as a traffic commissioner 25 years ago this month.
Chris embodies everything that is excellent about the IRTE and everyone who works in the commercial vehicle industry. Chris, I wish you well and I shall miss you and would like to thank you for your support, wise counsel and invaluable advice.
I am delighted to be working closely with the IRTE and was honoured when they asked Beverley Bell Training to collaborate in the delivery of Transport Manager CPC training to their members. The CPC exam is challenging at a time when all staff have to work longer hours and do more work on the day job as well as having to study for an exam.
Our trainers work hard to make the most of the time during the courses to ensure the delegates feel confident and are exam ready. We take time to find out delegates’ strengths and weaknesses as well as any home or work challenges. Our delegates are not just a number, and we are not doing a box-ticking exercise.
I am never sure who is more nervous about exam results day, the delegates or all of us at Beverley Bell Training. We want every delegate to succeed. But passing the exam is only the start and traffic commissioners are increasingly questioning whether new transport managers have the skills, expertise and experience to be nominated on an operator licence. We apply real-world experiences and scenarios so they can use them in their new roles.
Teaching someone how to be an effective manager is not just about knowing what the law or DVSA guidance says. It requires excellent communication skills, an ability to delegate when needed, good time management and prioritising several pieces of work and tasks. It requires patience, a cool head and the ability to make tough decisions as well as taking an empathetic approach when needed.
Our trainers work hard to reference these skills and competencies during our courses so that delegates are confident, when they sign their TM1 form to be nominated on an operator licence, that they don‘t have gaps in their skills or knowledge to start their roles.
Our special relationship with and understanding of IRTE members means we develop long-term relationships with our delegates, and we are always there for them long after the exam has been taken.
This critical skills gap in transport management is one of the major challenges facing any employer. Being an effective transport manager is not just about holding the qualification, and we know from feedback from our previous delegates that they enjoy their time with us, make new friends, bond as a team and help each other.
We are delighted to work with IRTE on this initiative, preparing the next generation of transport managers for their demanding roles, but also ensuring they look forward to it with enthusiasm and a desire to do the best they can.
Employers paying for a CPC exam course want the best value and service for their staff, and our collaboration with IRTE ensures this happens. We look to the future with confidence and excitement. We cannot wait to welcome our first set of delegates who could not do better than to look to people like Chris Grime, who gave 40 years of dedicated service to the IRTE and transport sector.
We do not know what operational challenges they will face or what the commercial vehicle sector will look like in the next 40 years. But we know that IRTE will continue to support them as they navigate the twists and turns of their career paths. We are delighted to be a part of that.
