Croydon haulier puts new talent in the driving seat

A London logistics company has committed to getting two new HGV drivers on the road in 2024 following its most recent recruitment drive.

Croydon-based ELB Partners Ltd is putting Dylan Borras (22) and Steve Cairnes (61) in the driving seat as part of its HGV driver training scheme. The new recruits will become fully qualified HGV drivers and are expected to gain their Class 2 licences in early 2024, enabling them to drive trucks over 3,500kg.

All training is fully funded by ELB Partners, and its scheme has already enabled four new drivers to qualify for their Class 2 licences this year. Aaron Gould, Ryan Mayne, Jay Bettel and Joel Turnbull are now highly skilled HGV drivers who are supporting the company with collections and deliveries.

As a member of Pallet-Track and the Hazchem Network, which enable independent hauliers to work in partnership to deliver goods, ELB Partners requires its drivers to be able to navigate roads in Greater London – a location that offers several unique challenges for HGV drivers.

The company has invested heavily in the installation of safety equipment in its trucks to support drivers, including AI cameras and telematics technology, which help to reduce risks, such as fatigue, tailgating and vulnerable road users, through data analysis and incident detection.

Following the HGV driver shortage of 2021, the 53-year-old firm developed its own driver training programme in partnership with EP Training Services to overcome local skills shortages and give drivers of all ages the opportunity to upskill or change careers.

Research conducted by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) in 2021 found the average age of an HGV driver to be 55, with less than one per cent of the workforce aged under 25. 

Peter Eason, managing director at ELB Partners, said: “We are pleased to have Dylan and Steve on the team and to be able to offer them the opportunity to gain new skills via our fully funded training scheme.

“It’s encouraging to see candidates of all ages applying for our HGV training; we had a very positive response to our most recent appeal for new drivers, which demonstrates that there is a real appetite for driver training in the local area. As a company, we are proud to support the industry in this way and would encourage other firms to help get the next generation of drivers on the road.”

Dylan Borras said: “I’m an experienced van driver, but I was looking to start a career and I thought it would be an interesting job.

“I enjoy driving and I like independent working, plus I know people who have been working as HGV drivers for 10 to 15 years, so it’s a secure career with good opportunities. I had been considering training for my licence for a couple of years, but I just didn’t have the spare money to put into it, so this opportunity is exactly what I was looking for.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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