TTC Group helps to boost Taxi driver “Knowledge”

News Article | February 2021

Telford & Wrekin Council

The number of taxi drivers completing their Knowledge and Driving Standards in Telford & Wrekin has trebled over the last two years thanks to the ongoing partnership between the local council and a driving education specialist.

TTC Group, which is headquartered in Telford, was appointed in 2019 by Telford & Wrekin Council to take over the management and delivery of both the knowledge training workshops and practical driving and knowledge tests that are designed to improve the performance and safety of local licensed drivers.

The company has used its vast experience in this arena and access to the highest qualified driving instructors and trainers to hold a minimum of 2 in-car practical assessment and 2 theory and exam dates every month, supporting up to 12 drivers on each date. This will increase further over the next 12 months.

TTC Group has also worked hard to build relationships with some of the borough’s leading taxi firms, to make them aware of the new approach by the local authority and to ensure that the booking system is a lot more streamlined.

Results have been impressive and has led to TTC Group’s contract being extended to 31st March 2022, with the option for a further year if it continues to be successful.

Taxi Driver Exam
Andy Wheeler Profile 01

Andy Wheeler, Head of Technical Delivery at TTC Group (pictured) explained:

“This has been a completely new approach for Telford & Wrekin Council and I’m delighted to see the progress we have achieved to date and with some excellent feedback from both drivers and taxi firms,” 

“We sat down with the local authority’s licensing team at the very start of the contract and have worked collaboratively with Carl and Suzanne ever since making improvements and updates to course and testing content when required”

Providing a vital safe transportation service to our community is critically important to us. Our driver licensing conditions form the framework of how we expect our licensed drivers to deliver a safe quality service to our community, which is why we require drivers to demonstrate their knowledge and driving ability. Working collaboratively with both TTC and our taxi operators has resulted in a threefold increase in driver licence applications through our licencing team. The training and test fees are met by the drivers and we feel they receive value for money. We can honestly say that since working with TTC from 2019, we have had no driver complaints about the test process at all. The drivers and operators like the arrangements that we have in place as TTC can provide an agile service of test date provision to meet demand.

Councillor Richard Overton Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement

Andy Wheeler responded:  “It’s great to receive positive feedback, which is testimony to the team at head office and the professionalism of our trainers. We are a results business at TTC and achieving improvements in road safety and striving to maintain our ethos of ‘Protecting People on the Move’ is really important to the whole team."

Every driver receives over an hour of training with an experienced TTC road safety expert before sitting a Knowledge test based on what it means to be a taxi driver and the behaviour expected of them.  Applicants then undertake a Driving Standards test, which is a 1-hour practical examination on the road.

A number of trainers have been selected to oversee the tests and explore some of the challenges/scenarios facing taxi drivers. Such scenarios include the rules and regulations of holding a taxi badge, how to assist disabled passengers and transporting children ensuring they arrive safely at the intended destination.

There is also guidance on supporting individuals in the role and how they should deal with difficult situations during the course of carrying out their job.

Craig Bexon, Driver Manager for Go Carz in Telford, added his support:  “We met the team at TTC in early September 2019 to discuss how the tests were going to be introduced."

“From the day TTC took over the taxi testing from Telford & Wrekin, we have received an excellent service, from booking the tests, extra availability being organised and liaising with us to ensure everything is ok.”

Claire Delaney, Shropshire Business Area Director for 24x7 Ltd kindly added:  “24x7 Ltd has only recently started operating in the Shropshire area and TTC Group Ltd has been a new supplier to us as a business.”

“My experience in dealing with the team has always been very professional and helpful. The Admin team have worked really well to accommodate the needs of my business so that drivers can be licenced in a very timely manner. The assessors that TTC have on board are trained to an exceptional standard and this is seen in the way they present the material in the morning sessions.”

“All of the drivers that I have put through for their licence have said how reassuring the assessors are, which makes taking the practical test a lot easier.”

“As a business, the relationship I have built with the Admin team has been crucial and I have always found them to be very helpful, especially with all of the restrictions this sector has faced over the passed year. I highly recommend TTC Group Ltd and thank them for the work they carry out in the process of getting drivers that are safe behind the wheel operating in Telford & Wrekin.”

TTC Group’s capabilities and services are driven by the needs of today’s businesses and wider social aims to improve the well-being and safety of all road users.

For further information, please visit www.thettcgroup.com or follow @ttcgroupuk on twitter