XPO Logistics graduate, Ellie Lynch, is entering the final stages of a six-month placement as a Project Officer in Uganda with international development organisation Transaid. During her time in Kampala, she has been supporting a major project to build the capacity of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and passenger service vehicle (PSV) driver training.
Her focus has been on engaging with private sector transport companies to recruit them into the Road Safety Programme at the Safe Way Right Way Uganda centre, which is working to ensure Ugandan drivers are in a position to meet the needs of the oil, gas and related sectors, in the face of rising demand for qualified commercial drivers.
As well as supporting recruitment, her role includes examining driver training activities and tracking data trends relating to safe driver behaviour – both before and after the training.
Lynch says: “The main aim is to prove that the training Transaid has helped to develop improves road safety and actually saves lives. This helps to ensure greater take-up from local fleets and will support us in introducing the programme to other African countries where we can have an incredible impact.”
Her role has also included helping Transaid and the Uganda Driving Standards Agency (UDSA) to enhance the capacity of driver recruitment, training and business development by establishing maintenance schedules and fuel trackers for training vehicles, whilst also formalising job descriptions for UDSA employees.
Mark Simmons, XPO Logistics HR Director, UK and Ireland, says: “Safety is one of our core values as a business. We believe that all our employees have a role to play to make sure that everyone – in our operations and beyond – is safe. We’re really proud to have our graduates take part in this programme and share this important value all the way to Kampala.”
Caroline Barber, Chief Executive at Transaid, says: “We are incredibly grateful to our corporate member XPO Logistics for its continued support in offering graduates the opportunity to be seconded onto one of our road safety projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
“These graduate schemes help people share valuable experiences and knowledge, and means they return to the UK having learnt many new skills. They also help us to gain new perspectives on tackling transport issues and really enhance the value we can deliver through our professional driver training programmes.”
The placement was part of XPO Logistics’ Graduate Programme, which is structured as four six-month assignments over a two-year period. Lynch has worked for XPO Logistics for nearly two years and her time in Uganda marks her last placement on the scheme.
For more information about next year’s programme visit https://europe.xpo.com/en/work-with-us/#apply-now. To follow Ellie’s time in Uganda visit her blog at https://drivertraininginuganda.wordpress.com/.
Transaid’s professional driver training work in Uganda marks one of its largest road safety initiatives and also the first time its road safety work has received external funding on such a significant scale. Funding has been made available jointly by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
For more information and to find out how you can support the organisation visit www.transaid.org.
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Note to Editor:
About Transaid
Transaid transforms lives through safe, available, and sustainable transport. Founded by Save the Children, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), and its Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, the international development organisation shares 25 years’ worth of expertise in 23 countries with partners and governments – empowering people to build the skills they need to transform their own lives.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Florence Bearman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136
Sophie Wood or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to sophie.wood@garnettkeeler.com / james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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