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