

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.

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,” said Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement.
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.