Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Government may review Shortage Occupation List early to ease driver shortage

Government may review Shortage Occupation List early to ease driver shortage
iStock image
Getty Images

To tackle the acute supply crisis gripping UK's food and drink businesses, the government is considering doing an early review of its Shortage of Occupation list to address the issue of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver shortages, stated reports on Friday (27), adding that Home Office officials are not in favour of the move.

Although a review of the Shortage of Occupation list- which sets out jobs where overseas workers can apply for visas- is not due until next year, recent reports claimed that proposals have been floated for bringing forward the review so HGV drivers can be included to ease the current problems facing the supply chain.


However, Home Office officials are reportedly not in favour of the early review, amid concerns it may lead to other sectors demanding similar inclusion.

“It has been floated and seems like the obvious solution but there’s been a lot of pushback from the Home Office,” a source told PA.

Several government departments are said to be liaising over the supply chain issues, including the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy department, the Home Office, the Department for Transport, the Department for Education, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Work and Pensions.

HGV drivers are currently not included on the list but there is pressure from supermarkets to include them to help ease the shortfall.

Government officials are also said to be working closely with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to increase the number of tests taking place and have vowed to streamline the process, reports said, adding that the government has also increased funding for apprentices to get more workers into the industry since it wants to ensure that Britain becomes less reliant on overseas drivers.

There is currently a shortage of more than 100,000 drivers in the UK, as per Road Haulage Association.

More for you

Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less