In Brief: Driver Hire; Skills needed in Humber; Faith PR
Bradford-based specialist transport and logistics recruiter Driver Hire is breaking trading records both in the UK and in its Australian business.
The final two weeks in November saw the company achieve all-time record weekly turnover of £2.1m. This was beaten in December’s first week when turnover climbed to £2.2m – 22% ahead of the corresponding week last year. There was a similar story from its Australian business, which two weeks earlier, also reported record weekly trading figures, topping AU$260,000 and AU$900,000 for the full month.
“Whilst our current run of excellent trading is partly down to seasonal factors, there’s a definite flight to quality as we’re also gaining market share from our rivals,” says Chris Chidley, Driver Hire’s chief executive officer.
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THERE will be enough jobs to employ everyone in the Humber region as the estuary continues to grow in importance, but there are going to be real problems in meeting the demand for skilled jobs in the near future.
That was the message to the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Shipping Committee from the Grimsby Institute’s Logistics Training Centre.
By 2020 it is expected that the number of degree level qualified jobs in the area will increase significantly and there is a need to raise employer commitment and investment in skills. There is now a demand-led provision of education, training and skills and a desire to maximise the use of funding to help increase the aspirations of the next generations. The Institute’s vice principal of strategic projects, Sam Whitaker, said the UK Energy Estuary is a massive area and there are going to be real problems in meeting the demand for skilled jobs in the near future.
Whitaker said the offshore opportunities would be significant and the five major colleges in the Humber, Hull University and other training providers, are all working to meet that need, while Grimsby Institute is creating a Logistics Training Centre through a £7m Growth Deal Project, £2m of which has been raised through a grant from the Humber LEP, with the other £5m being self-raised finance.
The new centre must reflect industry demand, he told the meeting, and focus on the ports and energy sector, logistics and an ambition to be part of a global centre of excellence.
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FAITH PR is returning to its hometown of Brighouse as it moves into new premises in a new office development in the town.
The communications agency has opened its doors at Thornhill Beck Lane, Brighouse, as part of its expansion.
Founded by Stefanie Hopkins in 2007, Faith PR has recently secured several account wins and has outgrown its current Birstall office where it has been based for 17 months.
