This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Young Driver Training Scheme
25/03/2003
Young people in Scotland seeking a career in road
haulage were given a boost today with the announcement of
the launch of the Young Driver Training Scheme. This
initiative is part of the Scottish Road Haulage
Modernisation Fund (RHMF).
The scheme will provide substantial financial assistance
to companies to allow young drivers to obtain a Category
'C' LGV licence from age 18, without having to wait until
21.
It will be managed by the Road Haulage and Distribution
Training Council (RHDTC) and will provide support of up to
£2,500 per driver to provide high quality training. A
higher amount of support is available where the firm
concerned is based in an assisted area.
The scheme is part of a series of initiatives to be
launched throughout 2003. Drivers already within the
industry will be supported through the development of a new
Driver Development Demonstration Programme, which will help
drivers to make savings in fuel and operational costs.
Also, a modern management programme, to be introduced
later in the year, will help improve management skills
within the sector and lead to increases in business
efficiency and productivity.
The Scottish Executive has developed these initiatives
under the Scottish RHMF in conjunction with the Road
Haulage Association (RHA), the Freight Transport
Association (FTA) and the RHDTC.
Deputy Transport Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
"Today's announcement of a Young Driver Training Scheme
represent a significant investment in the future of both
the road haulage industry in Scotland and the lifelong
learning opportunities for young people.
"It also represents a major step in addressing the
industry's concerns about a future driver shortage whilst
at the same time underlining our commitment to develop life
long learning opportunities and to tackle environmental
issues."
Mr Macdonald welcomed the appointment of Mr Chris
Campbell as Project Manager to drive forward the
initiatives under the Scottish RHMF. Mr Campbell joins the
RHDTC on secondment from the FTA where he has also held the
post of training manager for Scotland. Mr Macdonald
added:
"I welcome the appointment of Mr Campbell to a post in
which I am sure his experience in this field will
contribute to the overall success of the Scottish
RHMF."
Chris Campbell said:
"Today's announcement shows the Executive's commitment
to support road hauliers by addressing the training issues
that hauliers at all levels currently face, and along with
the FTA and the RHA I welcome the significant investment
being announced."
This new training initiative complements the CleanUp
Scotland programme which was launched last November, and
which is part funded by the Scottish RHMF. CleanUp aims to
reduce pollution by providing grants for hauliers to fit
particulate traps and other emission reducing technology to
their vehicles.
The Scottish RHMF is the product of extensive and
on-going consultation between the Scottish Executive, the
Road Haulage and Distribution Training Council, the Road
Haulage Association and the Freight Transport Association
to ensure that the needs of the industry in Scotland are
met.
The Young Driver Training Scheme will enable young
drivers to gain high quality training, leading to a
transferable Level 2 Scottish Vocational Qualification, and
a category 'C' LGV licence at age 18 instead of at 21.
Additional elements of the Scottish RHMF, including a
Driver Performance Demonstration Programme and a Modern
Management Programme will be launched later in 2003.
The CleanUp Scotland programme was launched in November
2002 and is part funded by the Scottish RHMF. Further
details on the programme and the grants available can be
found on the CleanUp website at http://www.cleanup.org.uk
or by contacting the Transport Energy team at the Energy
Savings Trust on 0131 244 1605.