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More sign up to Teesside taxi firm’s Back to Work programme

A Teesside taxi firm is hoping to take on more drivers after successfully rolling out a Back to Work scheme.

Middlesbrough-based Boro Taxis has entered the second phase of an initiative designed to get unemployed people back into work.

In partnership with Aim High Training, the company has secured funding to run a Back to Work Pilot that has the capacity to train up to 100 unemployed individuals to become taxi and private hire drivers.

Following two initial open days, 37 men and two women signed up and now are taking part in practical and classroom-based training at Boro Taxis, based at Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough.

Following two more open days, a further 24 people have enrolled on the course that includes an Edexcel Level 2 BTEC Certificate in Introduction of the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver.

Following the training, the Licensing Authority will assess the suitability of all applicants for a job as a private hire driver, via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and medical check and knowledge tests.

All those who pass the course and meet the regulatory checks and necessary standards are guaranteed a job with Boro Taxis.

Mohammed Bashir, founder of Boro Taxis, which started out with three cars in 1982 and now has a fleet of 700, said: “Being involved in the Back to Work Pilot scheme reflects that as it will help us maintain the quality of service we provide while help equip local people with the knowledge and skills to become employed as a taxi driver.

“I am delighted that we have now entered phase two of the training scheme that will ultimately help train 100 people.”

Those who attended the open days were able to find out what the role of a private hire driver entailed after which they could decide if they wanted to proceed further.

John Moon, a director at Boro Taxis, which has a fleet of 700 vehicles, is a qualified assessor and is leading the training, which comprises two days a week for six weeks.

The BTEC course covers customer service, disability awareness, health and safety, route planning, the carriage of luggage, and the regulations surrounding the industry.

Boro Taxis has a workforce of 800, which is made up of a mixture of direct employees and self-employed drivers, all of whom are fully trained.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .