Skills, competences and the effective workforce of tomorrow

Priorities are shifting

Staff shortages have been in the news in recent weeks, with HGV drivers now in huge demand from distribution companies, supermarkets and of course the waste and resource sector. Is this a lack of people or a lack of skills? It’s a bit of both, but must be contextualised given both BREXIT and COVID have meant many non-British drivers have not been available, whilst others have been sick or shielding.

Is this a long term problem? Probably not, but we must plan for it in the short term and as a sector we are working closely with other sectors with a huge haulage demand to give government a clear message about what must be done – from loosening restrictions on the frequency of re-tests for current drivers, to fast-tracking tests for new drivers.