Transport Skills On MerseysideThe Taxi Trade
Tony Norbury
Steve Woods
What's your knowledge of
the taxi job?
•
How many licensing areas are there
on Merseyside?
•
Do you need any formal
qualifications to be a taxi driver on
Merseyside?
•
What makes up your weekly costs?
•
What is the main employment status
of taxi and private hire drivers?
Merseytravel and Merseylearn
•
Merseylearn are part of Merseytravel, supporting
people across Merseyside to gain qualifications
and employment in the transport sector
•
We work with Job Centre Plus and Licensing
Authorities to support people to get the
qualifications they need to work in the taxi sector
•
We also work with learning providers and the
Sector Skills Council, People 1st, to make sure the
qualifications are available and to get the best from
government funding
Merseyside Area
You and Your Skills
• Why do you want to be a taxi driver?
• What skills or experience do you have that would
relate the job?
• What’s actually involved and why?
Requirements
• What do I need?
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Have a UK driving license
Pass an enhanced CRB check
Pass a class 2 medical
Pass the local authority knowledge test
Hold a VRQ or NVQ qualification in taxi
Apply for your license
Learning
• Knowledge Test
– Basic memory test
• Roads, places of interest, routes
• VRQ/NVQ
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Understanding of equality and diversity
Customer Service skills
Health & Safety
Licensing laws
The Criminal Records Check (DBS)
•
Licensing Authorities have a duty to protect the public by making sure that taxi and
private hire drivers meet a “fit and proper” criteria, so you will need to tell the
licensing authority about any criminal convictions you have.
•
You’ll need to apply for a form from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and
you then need to share the results with the Licensing Authority – this can take up
to 6 weeks to come back, but is normally sooner.
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All convictions, however minor or long ago, need to be disclosed
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The Authority have guidelines from the government regarding the convictions that
will prevent people being a taxi driver. In some cases applicants may need to
attend a licensing panel to discuss your convictions.
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If you are not happy with the advice you have been given or any decisions taken
regarding the panel you can appeal to magistrates
Taxi and Private Hire Drivers are mostly
Self Employed
• Advantages of self employment
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Flexible hours that suit you
Your own boss
Freedom to work at other trades
Your own business
Earn as much as you can
• Disadvantages of self employment
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Have to sort out your own tax, national insurance etc.
Isolation
No paid holidays
Limited employment support
Basic Costs
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Fixed Costs Money out
– Settle radio rent
– Insurance
– Petrol
– HMRC Tax + National Insurance
– Car rental or finance
– Emergency fund for repairs etc
– Training/ licensing fees
– Accountants fee
– Advertising/ own airport work specialised transport
•
Income Considerations
– The money you take on the road is your own
– Hours you need to work to get that money
– Effect of hours on your personal circumstances
– Which radio firm are you going to work off to get the best value for your time
Health & Wellbeing
• Important to be aware of health and wellbeing issues
• How the taxi and private hire job and lifestyle can
lead to health and well being issues
• Trade representation, Unions, and Professional
membership schemes
Creating a work-life balance
What's your knowledge of
the taxi job?
•
How many licensing areas are there
on Merseyside?
•
Do you need any formal
qualifications to be a taxi driver on
Merseyside?
•
What makes up your weekly costs?
•
What is the main employment status
of taxi and private hire drivers?
Next Steps
• Research the area you want to work
• Talk to the licensing officers in your chosen area
• Research the operators that work out of that area,
speak to drivers if possible
• Get some quotes for insurance and a settle car if
needed
• Create a budget/business plan
• Apply for your CRB
• Enrol on the training
• Apply to licensing
Thank you
• Any Questions?
More information is available on www.merseylearn.net