Bakers Dolphin is taking action to address a national shortage of drivers.
The Weston-super-Mare firm is launching its own coach driver training school which it hopes will encourage more people to consider a career behind the wheel.
The man spearheading the training is Michael Blowers, newly-crowned national Coach Tour Driver of the Year at the National Coach Tourism Awards – so candidates know they will be learning from one of the best in the business.
As an added incentive, Bakers Dolphin will fund the training required for drivers to earn their PCV licence.
Research has shown that a key reason behind the driver shortage is an ageing workforce – there are not enough new drivers coming on board to replace those who are retiring or moving to other careers – with younger candidates being put off by the cost of acquiring a PCV driving licence and Driver CPC.
Bakers Dolphin MD Max Fletcher says: “The industry has struggled with a national shortage of drivers for some years now, so we decided to try to actively do something positive about it.”
“Hopefully a combination of us funding the training, together with an opportunity for people to learn from one of the best drivers in the business, will inspire them to consider coach driving as a career.”
Michael Blowers has now been appointed to the position of Training Co-ordinator at Bakers Dolphin. He joined the firm in May 2008 after discovering a love for coach driving while working as a driving instructor.
“I hope the fact that Bakers Dolphin is willing to pay to put drivers through their training, so that they can get the highly valued PCV licence, will encourage many more people to consider a career as a coach driver.
Bakers Dolphin offers hundreds of holiday tours around the UK and the continent. It also provides regular daily coach services for schools in the region as well as private hire vehicles. It currently has vacancies for coach and bus drivers and is willing to offer flexible, full or part-time employment to fit in with candidate’s needs.
