Peterborough, UK: The Road Haulage Association is once again calling on the government to add HGV drivers to the UK Shortage Occuation list, amid concerns that new immigration rules will make it harder for firms to recruit drivers from abroad.
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “Profit margins are so low that employers simply cannot afford to train new drivers. They need to employ those that are already qualified.”
He warned that the industry is not able to use Apprenticeship Levy funding to help with training and recruitment, despite contributing £320m to the fund since April 2017.
“For years we have been talking to the Home Office about getting the HGV driver skills shortage added to the UK Shortage Occupation list that includes all of the occupations that currently have a skills deficit. This industry should certainly be near, if not top of the list,” Burnett said.
