THE rapid growth of a specialist Worcestershire-based driver recruitment firm is helping to provide new jobs and tackle the shortage of light and heavy goods vehicle drivers.

eResponse Driving, a division of county jobs provider eResponse Group, has created four new recruitment jobs in Worcester and Kidderminster since launching in January this year – with more than six new consultant posts expected to be filled by Christmas.

Growth at the new division has been boosted after its team placed more than 150 drivers into full-time work with several haulage, delivery and courier firms, in only eight months. The expansion news comes as the UK’s haulage industry is facing a shortage of 45,000 drivers.

Richard Marsh, operations director of eResponse Group, said: “The driving division is only months in so to be preparing to more than double our workforce by the end of the year is a big achievement. It is testament to the hard work done by our team for the industry which has faced tough times in recent years.

“Placing a new generation of more than 150 professional drivers from Worcestershire and the surrounding areas into full-time roles has far exceeded our targets set when we launched in January. It shows the trust the haulage sector, which is worth £74b, is placing in us to provide the best road-ready light or heavy goods vehicle drivers. The future is bright.”

As part of its new eResponse Driving service, the company has launched a new website which is updated daily with new jobs and opportunities in the sector.