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Skills for Logistics aims to solve driver shortage in Scotland

Skills for Logistics, the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for the freight logistics industry, is aiming to solve the shortage of drivers in Scotland by encouraging women to get behind the wheel.

According to Skills for Logistics, Scotland is currently estimated to be short of over 4,000 LGV and van drivers, and women are grossly under-represented in driving jobs - currently only 16 of 700 Scottish Driver Training Scheme trainees are women.

"Recruiting skilled people into the Scottish logistics sector is very difficult. This project aims to make the industry more appealing to women by identifying their employment and training requirements. The result will be the creation of realistic training schemes based on the needs of both employers and women," commented Ian Hetherington, Chief Executive, Skills for Logistics. "Skills for Logistics needs to work with employers to change the perception of the industry and provide a welcoming environment for women to work in – this project will help to do this."

The project, supported by the Scottish Skills Fund, will involve:-

• Research with female employees (drivers and non-drivers) to investigate female perceptions of the driving role and the barriers facing women in choosing this career
• The creation of company strategies for the recruitment and retention of female drivers
• The development of a female-only driver training programme to be delivered in-house in three companies to a minimum of 15 trainees
• Evaluation of good practice learned, followed by subsequent rollout across Scotland via the Scottish Driver Training Scheme.

For further information, visit www.skillsforlogistics.org.

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