Driver Hire expects to see rising demand for staff

RECRUITMENT business Driver Hire expects to see growing demand for permanent staff, after recording a large increase in full year turnover.

The Bradford-based company provides temporary and permanent drivers and other logistics staff to the public and private sector.

If organisations are short of staff – due to illness, holidays or seasonal demand – Driver Hire will supply a replacement.

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In the year to April 2011, Driver Hire’s revenues rose by 22 per cent to £70m.

Chris Chidley, the company’s chief executive, said: “We’ve enjoyed an outstanding year. In a still uncertain economic environment our clients clearly welcome the flexibility of using temps. In a highly regulated industry they also value working with a reliable partner they know will supply them with quality and compliant staff.

“Looking ahead, as economic activity continues to recover, we see a greater demand for permanent staff.

“That’s why we launched dh Logistics Appointments – a new permanent recruitment service for managerial staff. Another exciting development is our proposal for online driver assessment and training.

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“Overall, I’m very optimistic for the year ahead with our mix of blue chip national customers and local SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) continuing to drive our office network forward to further success.”

Mr Chidley said Driver Hire’s subsidiary, Driver Hire Training, had also gone from strength to strength.

It has 113 trainers and 72 offices offering fully accredited courses.

Since its launch in 2010, Driver Hire Training has delivered 800 courses to around 6,500 drivers.

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Seventeen of the company’s 95 offices achieved increases in turnover of 50 per cent or more.

Over the financial year, new offices were opened in Darlington, Leamington Spa, Twickenham and south east London.

The business was established in Shipley, near Bradford, in 1984 by John Bussey and Mark Lawn and opened its first franchise in Newcastle in 1987.

In January, Mr Chidley called on the Government to consider cutting tax on fuel to boost British business and the recruitment industry as a whole.

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More than 100 delegates attended the company’s winter conference which was held at the Nottingham Belfry in January.

At the conference, Mr Chidley revealed that the week running up to Christmas had been the second best in the company’s history.

Franchisees from Lincoln, Enfield and Aberdeen shared some of their experiences and business tips.

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