RHA says apprenticeship reforms announced today by the government will support skills development in the transport sector.
Coinciding with National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) in England came the news that adult learners over the age of 19 will no longer have to complete a maths and English qualification equivalent to GCSE in order to pass it.
This stipulation has been detrimental in the quest to fill PSV and HGV driver vacancies, says RHA. Meanwhile, the President of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Paul Lynch, will use his column in the next edition of routeone to highlight that this rule may have dissuaded operators from using apprenticeships.
Meanwhile, the minimum length of an apprenticeship in England will be reduced from twelve to eight months.
Sally Gilson, RHA Policy Manager – Skills, says: “We’re delighted at today’s announcement, which will ensure we can get more people behind the wheel and into other roles in our industry.
“This is particularly pertinent given that our industry will need 200,000 new lorry drivers in the next five years to service demand and drive growth.
“There are many instances where apprentices have got through the technical aspects of their courses but were held back because they didn’t pass the maths and English elements.
“We’re therefore pleased that this move will remove those barriers and support people into rewarding new careers in our industry.”
Despite Mr Lynch’s belief that the take-up of driver apprenticeships in coach and bus could have been higher, CPT today welcomed news of record figures.
Data released to mark NAW showed 605 drivers and 91 engineers from the industry completed apprenticeships in 2024 – an increase of 19% on the previous year. A third of those qualifying were aged under 25.
Over the last five years, the total number of apprentices welcomed into the bus industry has been 2,202, comprising 1,780 drivers and 422 engineers.
The changes follow the setting up of Skills England and the replacement of the Apprenticeships Levy with the Growth and Skills Levy in September 2024.
CPT Operations Director Keith McNally says: “Apprenticeships are a terrific way of bringing new talent into the bus and coach industry.
“The opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ has broad appeal and opens up careers to young people and career switchers alike.
“In common with many other industries, bus and coach operators have struggled with the bureaucracy and rigidity of the Apprenticeships Levy. So we welcome steps taken by the Government to overhaul the levy and to open up funding for shorter courses.”
