Chris Philp, formerly business development director at online wholesaler Blueheath, has launched a company to recruit, train and place drivers for major distributors.
The company, known as Clearstone, already has a multi-million pound turnover, with Philp generating customers from previous Blueheath contacts.
Clients include Ocado, Wincanton, Exel and Gist. Philp said the company aimed to tackle the increasing shortage of UK LGV drivers. “There aren’t enough recruits to the industry because no one else is marketing a career as a driver to the general public. Temps aren’t the answer to the estimated 65,000 shortage, because they’re drawn from the existing pool of drivers and bring their own problems for employers.
“Five hundred new drivers trained and placed is an early milestone for us, but the shortage will rise to 120,000 by the end of 2006 under the Working Time Directive.
“We anticipate training and placing 2,000 new drivers across the UK in 2005 to help meet the demand.”