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Taxi giants Take Me are on a huge recruitment drive to meet the fast-growing demand for taxis here in the UK. Here, we chat with CEO David Hunter about the post-pandemic boom, prosperous driving careers, and taxis falling from the sky WORDS BY EMILY MILLER

P“ eople are of course still expecting taxis to be falling out of the sky the minute they need them,” says Take Me’s CEO David Hunter. “We are doing our best to meet that demand, but we need more drivers. The demand is greater than I’ve ever known it.” When I ask why, he tells me it’s “for a number of reasons”, but primarily it’s down to the world opening up. “With the lifting of restrictions and nightlife back in business, people working in offices again, going out, and predominantly not going abroad but spending their money socialising here in the UK, we are seeing clients simply needing our services round the clock again – more so than ever.” The shortage of drivers, he tells me, is multi-layered: “During lockdowns, trade dropped significantly in the evenings, meaning many drivers adapted to working more in the day. Now they aren’t so eager for the night time work, but we are seeing drivers requesting these shifts again as they can see the benefits of quieter roads and increased demand.

“In addition, many drivers chose delivery work because there was a demand there. And then of course there has been a huge drop in European workers due to Brexit and/or drivers returning home during Covid who are not able to come back,” David adds.

Word on the streets is that there has been a drop of approximately a third in taxi drivers on the road across the industry, Take Me, which is a national company with fleets across the UK as well as here in Leicester, is on a drive to get new drivers on board.

Why drive with Take Me

A driver with Take Me can earn on average around £1,500 a week and can work on a self-employed or employed basis, each of which has its own benefits. All drivers can expect training, support, four weeks’ commissionfree driving, a vehicle if needed, assistance with car maintenance, and even reduced insurance rates.

As a self-employed worker, a driver can choose their shifts, so if night shifts work best for you, or you have

other work commitments you can work around those easily. As an employed driver your shifts are given to you, but you do receive other benefits such as sick pay, holiday pay, and further assistance.

Joining a highly regarded and established firm like Take Me means a driver has extensive support, making the job a skilled one quickly with great rates of pay and a smooth transition from any previous career. David said: “We offer a lot of support in our packages for drivers. They know if they join us, they will get the very best training, advice, and excellent working conditions.”

The competitive rates of pay mean that many drivers who turned to delivery work during the pandemic may well be seeing the benefits of working with people, again rather than packages.

“There are other benefits to driving people over packages than rates of pay – there’s the social aspect that so many of us have been deprived of for so long. A taxi driver works with people, and that’s far more interesting!” David laughs.

Drivers will not only be busy, well paid, and social once again, but they can also work in various counties across the UK, with Take Me being a major competitor for other app-based platforms.

A rise in demand for taxi services was felt before the pandemic with David adding: “There is a shift in the general public away from owning their own cars to now enjoying an easier, often more cost-effective way of getting around.

“With the more economical vehicles available, the costs

Drivers will not only be busy, well paid, and social once again, but they can also work in various counties across the UK, with Take Me being a major competitor for other app-based platforms

associated are able to come down. With that, the public is becoming more open to the idea of a convenient and more wallet-friendly travel in favour of owning their own car.”

The ease in mobility with the use of technology, further adds to the appeal of calling a cab as opposed to taking other transport; at the touch of a few buttons your car can be there in minutes taking you door to door with payment taken electronically and efficiently.

All of these reasons for an increase in the demand for tax drivers means there has never been a better time to change career and drive for Take Me. Find out more and apply at drive.takeme.taxi.