16 Autumn 2006 Private Hire News

UPDATE Topographical Assessment

by Alan Haslehurst

Since 1st April 2006 all newapplicants to the PCO for a PrivateHire Driver’s Licence have needed toundertake a topographical skillsassessment prior to being granted afull licence.

This is possible because temporary permits arestill being issued but they are subject tocertification being obtained via an assessmentprior to the grant of a full licence. From 31stDecember 2006 temporary permits will nolonger be issued and all new applications forlicenses will have to be accompanied by aCertificate of Topographical Skills Assessmentissued by an accredited organisation.

The PCO has started the process of accreditingassessment centres and have to date grantedaccreditation to over 48 centres around London.The majority of these are Private Hire Companieswith a few recognised training providers.LPHCA members make up 32 of these companieswith a number still being processed.

The Assessment is designed to cover basic mapreading skills and general topographicalknowledge. To the experienced, the test seemsto be very easy but in practice large numbers ofnew applicants are found to need someassistance to get to this foundation level.

The Accreditation Process

Applicants wishing to be accredited by the PCOneed to provide details of how they will addressthe delivery of the tests in accordance with thespecification laid down by the PCO.

This specification covers the test content whichneeds to be unique for each candidate andbased in any area of London at the choice of thecandidate. Companies are also required todemonstrate that they have suitably qualifiedassessors and an environment that is conduciveto the delivery of the test in a quiet area.Additionally companies will be required to givedetails of any training and assistance they areable to give the candidates as well as thecharges for both the assessment and anyadditional training offered.

The PCO have generally been responding toapplications within 2 to 3 weeks of receipt. Theassessment facilities will be visited andmonitored by the Adult Learning Inspectorate,which has now started visiting accreditedcompanies. They will be auditing the centresand working with them to establish commonstandards.

As part of the LPHCA Topographical Assessment package application, templates are provided to simplify the process as well asadvice on how to set up the centre andguidance on conducting tests.

Why should Companies becomeaccredited?

The most common reason for companies to takeon accreditation is to be involved in thecontinued supply of new drivers to the industryand ultimately their own circuit. If this were leftto expensive training providers it could becomea price barrier for new applicants as well as anon-localised service with only a few centresspread around London.

If companies leave it to other companies to carryout the tests they obviously will be first in lineto offer new drivers employment and able topick the most suitable candidates.

Various statistics abound but the most reliablemust be those from the PCO, which claims over6000 new licence applications are processedeach year. The industry needs a constant supplyof new entrants and should make every effort toinvolve itself in attracting and assisting newdrivers.

Will the Assessment be part of a widertraining program?

The assessment covers basic skills and should beseen as a starting point for drivers to embark ona career that provides continuous training anddevelopment. That being said, experienceshows that many applicants require a smallamount of training to get to the level where thetest is not an obstacle.

Many LPHCA assessment companies now offer ashort pre-assessment training session aimed atachieving the necessary standard to be granteda certificate.

The introduction of the TopographicalAssessment has stimulated a lot of interest inthe whole driver training issue. Presently theLPHCA is looking at the feasibility of extendingthe present offering to incorporate a number ofadditional modules which could potentiallyaddress ongoing driver development.

What are companies charging for theAssessment?

Most companies are setting charges on a costrecovery basis. Most candidates are on site forbetween 1 and 3 hours and will require theindividual attention of a member of staff. Thus acharge of between £30 and £50 is both commonand reasonable. Often the charge is refunded ifthe candidate subsequently joins the restingcompany. Those offering pre- assessmenttraining do so for a small extra charge.

What are the advantages of the LPHCAAssessment System?

The application and accreditation process ismade simple through the provision of standardtemplates and guidance.

continued on page 18

107 Hindes Road, Harrow,Middlesex HA1 1RU

Telephone: 020 8427 1944(5 lines)

Fax: 020 8863 2081

18 Autumn 2006 Private Hire News

Topographical Assessment UPDATEThe preparation time for an assessment is reduced to aminimum. Under a manual system an assessor will have toestablish the area for testing from the candidate and thenprepare a unique test for that area. This could take nearly aslong as the test itself. With the LPHCA system this is all donewhilst you are taking the candidates details, a process thattakes less than 5 minutes from start to finish.

With an automated system each assessment meets the PCOspecification and is consistently delivered in the prescribedmanner.

All records are kept and both the candidate answers andassessor comments are stored for later inspection.

PCO reporting requirements are incorporated within thesystem (in release 2) thus reducing the ongoingadministrative costs.

Over 40 LPHCA members now have the system installed andwe are now moving into phase 2 of the process with therelease of a new enhanced version of the software as themagazine is being produced.

The cost of the system is £200 plus VAT in the first year withan annual renewal licence of £100 plus VAT.

Pricing for the system has been set at a low rate and supply isrestricted to members only, as a service and benefit to LPHCAGraded Operators. With this pricing members have foundthat the investment in the system will be recovered withinweeks of being accredited.

continued frompage 16

The LPHCA

By the time of publicationThe LPHCA will have had itsAdult Learning Inspectoratevisit. Any LPHCA membersthat are due an inspectionshould contact Steve Wright ifthey would like to know howit went and what will beexpected.

The LPHCA’s own Assessmentprocess has been a greatsuccess with over 100successful applicants having been assessed.

Candidates are offered the option of:

• An Assessment

• An Assessment with pre-assessment training

• An Assessment with post-assessment training

• An Assessment with pre-assessment training and post-assessment training

• Most candidates have chosen an Assessment with pre-assessment training.

The LPHCA needed to become an assessment centre to keepabreast of developments in the software and the ongoingPCO requirements, whilst at the same time providing anindependent place for members to send their drivers if theydid not have the facilities or room ‘in house’ to provideassessment.

We are pleased to say we have undertaken over 100assessments and that candidates have been delighted withthe process.

The assessment costs are lower for drivers who belong to orhave been interviewed by LPHCA member’s.

Cost of accreditation and training are:

Assessment Only£25.00 LPHCA Member’s Drivers – others £35.00

An Assessment with pre-assessment training £50.00 LPHCA Member’s Drivers– others £60.00

An Assessment with post-assessment training £50.00 LPHCA Member’s Drivers– others £60.00

An Assessment with pre-assessment training and post-assessment training £75.00 LPHCA Member’s Drivers– others £85.00

Any driver wishing to be assessed by The Association should call Gordon Foxwell on 07852 971536.

The assessments are donein The LPHCA’s Private Offices at: 213 Kenton Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 0HD

Autumn 2006 Private Hire News 19

Topographical Assessment UPDATEMembers who want to havethe LPHCA TopographicalAssessment Softwareinstalled the costs are:

Topographical software is£200.00 plus VAT for Year 1

then £100.00 plus VAT perannum thereafter from Year 2.

The Year 1 cost includes -installation, softwaredevelopment, LotusSoftware, data licenses,upgrades and support.

The Year 2 and ongoing perannum cost includes - datalicenses, upgrades andsupport.

It is the Association’s view that there should be as manytopographical assessment centres in London as possible. Weare delighted that LPHCA members form the great majorityof certification providers and nearly all of them are using theAssociation’s software.

The software is available for Graded Member Companiesonly. If you wish to have this ‘strictly licensed’ software andyou are not a member at present please complete theGrading Application form in this magazine and forward tothe association as soon as possible.

You’ve got to hand itto them...The LPHCA's first threeTopographical AssessmentCandidates proudly hold theirCertificates.

Muhammad Hayat Khan (top right),Keith Norris (bottom right),Sayid Abdul Raufi (bottom left)