NVQs, RMT and the Taxi industry - Sustainability
Background
Historically there has been a lack of job-related accredited training as a licensing requirement for taxi drivers. New technology, changing taxi/private hire legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the new corporate manslaughter legislation were all reasons for adopting training and development as a way of uplifting the quality of the taxi and private hire offer.
Working in partnership
In Leicester, the RMT have used the ULF to engage taxi drivers in programmes of education and training, and a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Road Passenger Transport was created for city-based taxi drivers. The 6-month course was developed by a partnership group of Leicestershire Promotions, the local RMT branch, RMT Learning, GoSkills, unionlearn and Leicester City Council. It was delivered by Leicester College and funded by Leicestershire Learning and Skills Council.
Merseylearn, Merseytravel’s learning and development arm, began working on a Merseyside-wide Taxi Driver Training Programme in 2006 as part of their ULF project. The major participants (Merseytravel, GoSkills, trade representative groups, unionlearn, the Logistics College North West, Knowsley Community College and the 5 Merseyside licensing authorities) formed a partnership. St Helens and the Wirral licensing authorities in 2006 were the first to adopt the qualification as a licensing requirement for new drivers: existing drivers are encouraged to take the course too. Knowsley is expected to have adapted the course in 2008, and both Sefton and Liverpool are interested in the course.
Meeting the needs of drivers
In Leicester, the first 51 drivers to pass the course were awarded their certificates at a ceremony at the National Space Centre in May 2008. 100 more drivers have started the course and a further 4000 drivers are being encouraged to enrol. 1200 Merseyside taxi learners have enrolled on the BTEC to date, and 800 have achieved the full Level 2 qualification.
An important element in the Merseyside programme has been to work with the national ‘Move on’ team to brush up literacy and numeracy skills as part of the course to make it easier for the learners to achieve the qualification. As a bonus, many drivers have voluntarily chosen to take and achieve an additional qualification - the Certificate in Adult Literacy.
The importance of the Project Worker
A key part in the success of the project was to employ a Project Worker who was able to get into the heart of the taxi industry and recruit ULRs who were able to meet, talk to and encourage drivers to take the qualification.
In Leicester, the RMT Branch was one of the key partners in driving forward this initiative, providing information and recruiting drivers on to the scheme. Kashmir Singh, Branch Secretary for RMT explained,
“I spoke to as many drivers as possible, explaining that this course was something we all should do... (it covered) health and safety issues around loading and unloading a wheelchair and safety tips from the Police including speed awareness and raising your hand to acknowledge passengers and notify road users when stopping."
In April 2008, Patricia Hewitt MP for Leicester West visited Leicester College to meet taxi drivers who were studying for their NVQ. She said,
“This project is a great example of how trade unions are helping people to improve their skills and make real progress in their lives. I have been really impressed by the effort that these taxi drivers have made to re-engage with education.”
Benefits to companies and individuals
Mike Radcliff was one of the first to see how this training would impact on his businesses through developing the knowledge and understanding of his 90 drivers. For many of the drivers this was their first qualification and Mike continues to work with Merseylearn and Knowsley College to turn the BTEC qualification into a full Level 2 NVQ in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving.
The Leicester programme has achieved a lot of interest nationally and recently gained a local award: the annual Leicester College ‘Awards to Industry’ which recognises and celebrates the College’s links with industry both locally and nationally. The award was presented to the partnership group behind the Leicester Taxi project at a ceremony held at Leicester College in June 2008.
The impact of the NVQ
The development of this qualification has fired the determination of Leicester’s taxi drivers to get involved in education as well as helping them to do their jobs more effectively.
Taxi driver Vijay Patel said:
“When I first heard about this new training opportunity I was very keen to get involved. I think it is great for taxi drivers that there is now a qualification which recognises the skills we have and the job we do. Having had the training I believe that I am now in a better position to offer greater customer satisfaction. The training has made me aware of the different ways I can help customers and improve the service I offer.”
Plans to sustain the developments
Merseylearn is now recognised as a leader in taxi driver training with a great deal of interest being shown from around England in the approach that they have taken. GoSkills, the sector skills council for transport, now recognise the training delivery model developed on Merseyside with the VRQ/BTEC leading to a full NVQ in driving road passenger vehicles as the best practice delivery model to be used across the UK.
