Banbury MP Victoria Prentis visited JLD Driver Training Ltd in Banbury on Friday 10^th June to find out about how they are helping local companies grow their workforce by training up Logistics Apprentices.

JLD was established in 2004 and is a specialist provider of LGV/HGV Training, Car + Trailer Training, Driver CPC Training (Periodic & Initial Qualification), Logistics Apprenticeships, Fork Lift Truck Training and other training courses. They train 8-10 drivers every week and have a pass rate of 81%, way above the national average of 55.4%.

JLD work in partnership with Activate Enterprise to deliver their Logistics Apprenticeship training to a number of local firms who employ the Apprentices. Activate Enterprise is part of the Activate Learning Group, which is the largest Apprenticeship and training provider in Thames Valley.

Victoria met with JLD’s Managing Director Lisa Dixon and Driving Apprentices Trafford Stopford, 18 (working for Jamie Briggs Removals & Storage Ltd), Brandon Foster, 23 (John Nicholls Building & Plumbing Merchants) and Lloyd Ogden-Jones, 29 (Grundon Waste Management). 

Lisa explained that the need for skilled drivers is greater than ever, and that they were finding that more companies were turning to Apprentices to provide a long-term solution to the skills shortages. She also described how JLD is keen to work with local schools to let students know about the opportunities within the logistics industry.

The Apprentices described their experiences of getting onto the Apprenticeship and the career potential it gives them. They helped Victoria observe some forklift truck training and gave her an inspection tour of one of JLD’s famous lorries!

Victoria said: “It was a pleasure to spend time with the Apprentices at JLD, who were really enthusiastic about the opportunity to train in this way. We have a shortage of HGV drivers, and JLD is working hard to try and rectify this. Lisa and the team do fantastic work in partnership with other local companies and train a large number of Apprentices each year."

Lisa said: “We were delighted that Victoria came to see us and find out about our work in helping local companies train up Apprentice Drivers. The logistics sector has a serious shortage of skilled drivers and apprenticeships are the best way for firms to grow their own workforce. It was really useful to talk about our interest in working more with schools and also attracting more females into the role."