Skills, confidence and opening the door to opportunity

Training is often talked about as something people need at the start of their career. That is true, of course, but it is only part of the picture.

In road transport, skills development must support people at every stage, those starting out, those moving roles, those returning to work, and those who we need to retrain because the world around them has changed. Technology, compliance, safety, decarbonisation and customer expectations are all moving quickly. That means learning cannot be a one-off event. It has to be part of how we keep the sector strong, relevant and accessible.

That is a big part of what we are trying to do through RHA Skills and RHA Training. RHA Training already plays an important role in supporting operators, individuals and the wider industry with practical training that is grounded in the realities of road transport. RHA Skills allows us to build on that further, working with the right partners to bring learning and development opportunities to members and the wider industry in ways that are practical, flexible and relevant.

It is not about training for the sake of it. It is about helping businesses build capability and helping people build confidence.

Funding has a major role to play in this. Government support for younger people is important, but it cannot stop there. We also need proper support for those who are retraining, changing direction or trying to get back into employment. That is especially true for those in the NEET category, people not in education, employment or training where the right intervention at the right time can genuinely change someone’s path.

I have been really encouraged by the work Darren Wright is doing in this space, alongside a number of colleges, to support people in accessing theory tests in friendly and supportive environments. That might sound like a small thing, but it is not. For some people, the hardest part is taking the first step. Being mobile is often critical to getting back into work. If we can increase the availability of tests, reduce anxiety around the process and create environments where people feel supported rather than judged, we make the sector more accessible. We also make it more attractive. Road transport has a brilliant story to tell. It offers careers, progression, technology, responsibility and purpose. Our job is to make sure more people can see that, access it and believe there is a place for them in it.

Skills are not just about qualifications. They are about confidence, opportunity and giving people a route forward. That is why RHA Training, RHA Skills and our partnerships matter. They give us the opportunity to support businesses today, while helping to open the door for the workforce of tomorrow.