Taxi firm Go Carz looking to recruit hundreds more drivers in Shropshire

Go Carz, the largest private hire firm in the Midlands, says it needs more drivers to meet demand for taxis.

The company wants to recruit around 350 new drivers – 200 across Shrewsbury and Telford, and 150 in Wolverhampton and Walsall.

If the company is successful in its recruitment drive it would see the total workforce rise to more than 1,000. Carl Wilday, managing director, said: "We are keen to educate people about how the whole process works. A lot of people, for instance, don't realise that drivers take home 100 per cent of their fares.

"They are effectively self-employed so can work whenever they want, which makes the job extremely flexible.

"The main expenses are renting the radio or car, and fuel. We provide the jobs and they take the fare."

Mr Wilday said the demand for taxis had increased dramatically over the past few months.

He said: "We are taking more than 100,000 calls a week across our four offices, and it's increasing all the time.

"There is just such huge demand that we need more drivers as soon as possible – specifically in Shropshire at the moment, but our offices in Wolverhampton and Walsall are very busy too.

"We undertook a recruitment drive last summer, which was successful and saw us through the Christmas season, but we need even more drivers now because demand is just going up and up.

"The work is out there and if someone is willing to put the hours in they can earn a very good wage."

The company has also announced that it is offering all drivers a formal NVQ qualification in 'Road Passenger Vehicle Driving'.

The NVQ covers driving in a professional manner, ensuring passengers' health and safety, helping passengers in a wheelchair, and processing fares.