Knowsley Council last night (Wednesday, January 28) agreed new standards of training for all of the borough’s taxi drivers.
The Council’s Licensing Committee approved plans for all of the borough’s hackney and private hire drivers to pass a National Vocation Qualification
All new drivers must now complete a VRQ course (Vocationally Related Qualification), before taking to the roads.
Within 12 months of gaining their licence, they will also be required to pass an NVQ too, when they will be assessed on the road.
It will mean they are trained on a range of issues including customer service, disability awareness, transporting passengers safely, equality and diversity, street knowledge and route planning.
Prior to last night’s decision, private hire and hackney carriage drivers attended a one day training course and were required to take a knowledge test.
A spokesperson for Knowsley Council said: “Our private hire and taxi drivers already provide a high quality service but we are striving for excellence. The introduction of these new standards will provide all drivers with a nationally recognised qualification.
“The VRQ has been available for drivers to take at Knowsley College for sometime and 150 people in the borough have already passed the standards. The feedback from people who have been on the course is very positive and one local firm will not allow drivers to undertake school contract work unless they have passed the qualification.
“Making the VRQ, along with the NVQ compulsory for all drivers in the future will ensure every driver licensed to operate in Knowsley is trained to the highest standards available. This decision will benefit the travelling public and drivers alike.”
Existing hackney carriage and private hire drivers in the borough are to be given a period of five years to pass the VRQ and NVQ. The course, which has indefinite funding from Train to Gain, will cost all applicants £10.
Drivers in the borough wanting to find our more information about the changes can call the Environmental Health and Consumer Protection service on 0151 443 3613
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