Question reference: S5W-09690
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 15 June 2017
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 June 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to pursue careers in HGV driving, in light of statistics that reportedly reveal that only 1% of HGV drivers are women and an estimated 3% are from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the participation of underrepresented groups in the labour market and the haulage industry. We recently announced the Workplace Equality Fund to reduce employment inequalities and barriers to employment, particularly in relation to recruitment and progression practices. The fund will support delivery of the Scottish Government's Race Equality Framework. Businesses can apply to the Fund when it opens for applications in late Summer.
In addition, SDS, working with Road Haulage Association (RHA) and key partners, commissioned a review of the labour market issues relating to the shortage of drivers within the Scottish Transport Network. The resulting report (Development of Action Plan to Address Shortage of Drivers in Scotland’s Transport Network) provided a number of recommendations, along with an action plan to tackle the identified skills supply and demand issues. SDS are currently scoping a pilot approach with training provider partners to encourage people from ethnic minority backgrounds and young women to consider applying for opportunities in the HGV sector.
The Development of Action Plan to Address Shortage of Drivers in Scotland’s Transport Network Report identified that industry must take an active role in addressing the identified issues. In response a stakeholder group has been established to consider the report’s recommendations and met for the first time on 22 June. Industry trade associations are already taking action to address the skills shortage in the sector through campaigns such as the ‘National Lorry Week’ and ‘She’s RHA’