30 May 2007 00:00

ONE OF A KIND LOGISTICS COMPANY DRIVES INDUSTRY STANDARDS

PRL Training Ltd based on Wrexham Industrial Estate is leading the way in addressing skills’ shortages for the rest of the logistics industry in Wales.

PRL Training, a training company which three years ago only had one employee, is on poll position to become a centre of excellence in logistics training for North and Mid Wales having becoming the only DSA Accredited LGC/PCV Driver Training School in Wales.

On the back of this success, PRL Training is on an expansion trail which will see it further develop a partnership with Yale College in Wrexham to provide Modern Apprenticeships and pilot a training academy and network programme on behalf of Skills for Logistics, the National Sector Skills Council for the freight logistics industries.

Established in 2004 with the help of business support agency Venture Wales, and an initial Assembly Investment Grant (AIG), in just over two years former HGV driver Chris Taylor from Llay has grown PRL Training to achieve a turnover in excess of £600,000 since starting his venture. More than 700 men and women in North Wales benefited from PRL’s 12-strong specialist training staff in 2006, gaining qualifications from Forklift and LGV, to warehousing and logistics management. This included the youngest female HGV driver in Wales, and those on the Welsh Assembly Government ReAct programme.

PRL Managing Director, Chris Taylor said “2007 will be a key year for PRL working with Venture Wales, Yale College and Skills for Logistics to pilot the academy of excellence for the region. We’ve worked hard to create a training model for the Academy based on sound business principles, which not only meets the demands of our business, but also the industry. We now feel in a position to replicate this model elsewhere and will be used as the basis for a training network across the two regions. To be able to do this effectively, we’re embarking on an expansion programme under Venture Wales’ GSB Growth Programme which will help us attract likeminded Welsh training companies to become part of the network. It’s not our intention to establish another PRL somewhere else in Wales but rather to be at the centre and lead the region by example.”

Venture Wales, which has an unmatched record in achieving success for entrepreneurs, start up and growing SMEs, is helping Chris secure specialist support and ongoing general support in order to employ two more staff and break through the £1M barrier this year. Head of the North Wales division of Venture Wales and business advisor, Brian Colley said “The training and business model Chris and his team have developed is outstanding for such a young company that was pretty much started from the kitchen table. It’s not easy setting up in business but Chris spotted a gap for delivering high quality vocational training in Wales so there was already a great foundation we could use to put PRL on the road to fast growth. PRL is already at the top of its game in terms of being the only fully accredited training company in Wales but in order to grow it is essential that the company continues to look for new opportunities. We will be working with them to ensure the business planning and strategy retains the kind of momentum that has got them to where they are today.”

Ian Lucas M.P. for Wrexham congratulated PRL on the achievement: “Skills and quality training are an essential ingredient of business success. Chris Taylor has done a superb job in identifying this fact and helping businesses to become more competitive. His success is richly deserved.”

www.venturewales.com
www.skillsforlogistics.org

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