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Recruitment plans rise
Page 12
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OPERATORS ARE confident of a busy run-up to Christmas with 17% looking to take on more staff in the final quarter compared with just 9% last year, according to driving agency Manpower.
Its Employment Outlook Survey Q4 2004 found that operators in the South-West are most optimistic, with 32% expecting to expand their workforce, while just 8% of companies in the West Midlands, London and Scotland are planning to recruit.
Simon Edwards, Manpower's operations manager, says: "Job prospects in the road transport sector in particular, are extremely strong. The demand for drivers in the UK continues to outweigh the available supply, particularly in this busy run-up to Christmas.
"Investment in training and development policies is one way companies can attract commercial drivers. However, it's only when companies start offering a combination of training.competitive pay rates, attractive benefits packages and ongoing work contracts that we will begin to see a steady rise in the number of drivers on the road who are interested in pursuing a long-term driving career."