Revitalising the transport sector: New proposals and opportunities for younger workforce

Like many sectors, the transport industry is faced with skills and labour shortages putting pressure on service delivery. Unlike some others, though, transport suffers the additional headache of being unable to access younger workers to fill some posts as a consequence of legislative barriers.

Like many sectors, the transport industry is faced with skills and labour shortages putting pressure on service delivery. Unlike some others, though, transport suffers the additional headache of being unable to access younger workers to fill some posts as a consequence of legislative barriers.

However, the UK Government has recently put forward new proposals aimed at bolstering the transport sector by removing some of those hurdles.  These proposals are particularly timely, considering persistent driver shortages and the need for more reliable bus and coach services across England.

Key points of the proposals:

• Lowering age requirements: The government is proposing to lower the minimum age requirements for bus and coach drivers, to allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drive longer journeys. Currently, drivers within that age range can only drive routes up to 50km. This move could open up career opportunities for younger individuals who are interested in the transport industry, as well as enabling bus operators to run more services such as in rural areas where routes tend to be longer.
• Accelerating training: There is a push to speed up the training process for bus, coach, and lorry drivers. This would enable new drivers to enter the workforce more quickly and help alleviate the current driver shortages.
• Enhancing licencing processes: Improvements to licencing processes are also part of the proposals, the intention being to streamline the path from training to employment for aspiring drivers, again helping to alleviate driver shortages and improve service delivery.

Impact on the industry:

The current government hopes that these proposals will have a significant impact on the transport industry by:

• Addressing workforce shortages: By allowing younger individuals to qualify as drivers for longer routes, the proposals aim to mitigate the driver shortage issue.
• Improving service reliability: With more drivers available, bus and coach services could become more regular and reliable, benefiting the public who rely on these modes of transportation particularly in remote areas.
• Creating employment opportunities: Young people aged 18 to 20 could find more career options in transport, leading to a more vibrant and dynamic workforce.

The proposals offer a welcome boost for the sector but their implementation before the next election remains uncertain. The recent changes to the apprenticeship levy and funding are, however, beneficial. Employers can now share up to 50% of their unspent levy fund, up from 25%. The government will also invest £60m in apprenticeships. These measures should enable more employers to access training and upskill their workforce. Transport sector operators should leverage these new rules while awaiting the outcome of the further proposals.