Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 38 | Page 17

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 17 Driver training qualifications could hit logistics sector hard, says boss T he boss of a company which helps other firms train HGV drivers says the logistics could be heading for another recruitment problem this year as key qualifications are due to expire. As part of new legislation introduced in 2009, all drivers of vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes had to undertake the classroom-based training by 2014. The five-year qualifications expire in September this year – and the authorising body in charge of facilitating it, JAUPT (Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training), says 300,000 drivers across the UK are yet to complete their new papers. Lisa Fleming, managing director of Newton Aycliffe-based Driver Hire Darlington, which specialises in the training and offers courses to drivers and employers, says the logistics industry needs to act fast to avoid the type of driver recruitment problems it faced five years ago. “The deadline is looming fast and there’s a huge number of drivers yet to renew their qualifications,” she said. “It could be a serious issue and in September we Driver Hire Darlington managing director Lisa Fleming says the could face a bottle- logistics industry could be heading for another driver shortage neck scenario where issue as CPC driver training qualifications expire this year. drivers aren’t able to work, which will leave employers with a severe shortage.” CPC Training or a company with drivers who need to undertake this, we can help you with Driver Hire Darlington is offering firms and individuals the driving courses, which include your requirements,” adds Lisa. Driver Hire is one of the UK’s leading five modules, during a series of sessions at Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre, next to the providers of Driver CPC Training, and Lisa Tesco store in Newton Aycliffe, but they can has owned the Darlington franchise of the national group since 2011. also carry out courses on business premises Her firm, based in Synkro House at if required. Parson’s Court on Aycliffe Business Park, has Training includes road traffic laws, safe grown to a five-man team servicing dozens loading, delivery driving, dealing with on-road of local firms. occurrences, driving commercially, fuel- Any firms or individuals wanting efficient driving, customer service and the to know more can call Driver Hire Highway Code. on 01325 314887, or email “Whether you are a driver who needs to [email protected] keep up-to-date with your 35 hours of Driver New Year Resolution for Carole as she takes up full-time role with publishers R esolution Media and Publishing – the company behind Aycliffe Today’s sister publications Tees Business and Tees Life – have taken on their first permanent full-time employee to help drive forward growth plans. The publishers, jointly headed up by Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker, have appointed experienced saleperson Carole Sanderson, who started her new role earlier this month. Carole, who originally trained in sales with the Teesside Evening Gazette, has spent the last 15 years working as advertising sales manager for the Stockton-based Primary Times magazine. Resolution revealed last year it planned to take on full-time staff to support plans for new publications in 2019. Ex-Gazette boss Bob Cuffe was appointed as a non-executive director at Middlesbrough-based Resolution at the end of 2018. Resolution Publishing directors Martin Walker (right) and Dave Allan with new recruit Carole Sanderson. Directors Walker and Dave Allan now hope Carole will be the first of a number of new members to join the team. Carole worked in telesales for the Gazette in the 1980s and became a sales trainer during her time with the local paper. She has since held various sales and administrative roles for firms around Teesside before joining Primary Times in 2003. Resolution co-director Walker, who also owns Aycliffe-based Mantis Media, said: “We’re delighted to have brought Carole on board. “Her track record of delivering sales in her previous role was an obvious quality which immediately stood out. “As we look to strengthen both Tees Business and Tees Life along with the Tees Businesswomen Awards and other publications in 2019, we’re confident Carole will become a valuable member of the team and, hopefully, the first of many in the near future.” Resolution publish Tees Business every quarter, with the publication due to celebrate its fourth birthday, and also print the Tees region’s only quarterly lifestyle publication, Tees Life, which has an exclusive, high-end 20,000-plus readership. For more details about the publications and how to advertise go, to teesbusiness.co.uk and tees-life.co.uk