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UVA plans 2021 ride-hailing launch with fixed prices, flexible commissions, Midlands recruitment drive Mark Bursa
Another new player is preparing to launch into the ride-hailing business, as Solihull-based UVA UK has launched a recruitment drive in the West Midlands. UVA is set to start services in a number of UK cities including Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Exeter and London in early 2021. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, UVA (pronounced yoo-vee-ay, not Yoo-va) has created 10 new job roles for aspiring apprentices and young people. The new jobs include roles as team leaders, in business administration and in digital marketing. Five new apprentices will be appointed by the end of February and will be taking on an 18-month programme to develop their skills, increase their confidence and work towards their apprenticeship
Scottish operators can access new Energy Savings Trust fund to equip vehicles with Covid-beating devices Private hire and taxi operators in Scotland will have access to a new fund that will help them fit their vehicles with Covid-19-beating equipment such as screens and PPE, as well as air filtration and sterilisation devices and UV cleaning systems. The new fund, administered by the Energy Savings Trust, is aimed at supporting all public transport operators during the pandemic, with a specific section for taxi and PHV operators. The Covid-19 Public Transport Retrofit Fund is part of a larger Covid-19 Public Transport Mitigation Fund, announced by Transport Scotland last year. The fund supports the installation of measures needed to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission on vehicles and aims to improve capacity and increase public confidence while on board. To apply, the vehicles must be licenced in Scotland.
Lincoln council gives green light to new-start Holla’s electric tuk-tuk service A proposed tuk-tuk taxi scheme in Lincoln will now use electric three-wheelers rather than highpolluting petrol-engined scooter-based vehicles, the company behind the scheme has announced. The city council’s licensing committee voted to allow new-start service Holla to run tuk-tuks in the city last August. Now Holla owner Christine Kimbrell has responded to negative feedback from the council about pollution from the proposed tuk-tuks, and has changed the proposal to three electric Zbee vehicles.
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qualifications with support from UVA and training provider Remit Group. UVA has created five additional roles as part of the Government’s Kickstart Scheme, which aims to create new job placements for young people between the ages of 16-25 either on Universal Credit or at risk of long-term unemployment. During the placements, candidates will take part in masterclasses with leading industry business partners, receive a recognised qualification on completion and have the opportunity to take on a full-time job at UVA. UVA UK CEO Ayesha Rees (pictured) said: “The creation of these new roles is a vital part of our commitment to giving back to the local community and nur-
turing local young talent across the region. We felt a sense of responsibility to create these opportunities to make sure that emerging young talent doesn’t slip through the net, which is now more important than ever. We want to make sure that candidates get the fullest and best experience they can when placed with us so they become well-rounded, confident young people, equipped with the skills they need for the next stages of their career.” UVA was founded by Ibrahim Aldaajani in 2019. It promises fixed-price rides without surge pricing. Drivers are charged flexible commission rates:15% up to £1,500; 12.5% from £,1500 to £1,750 and 10% on everything over £1,750.
All funded vehicles must be currently in operation and must be operational primarily within Scottish local authority areas. A cap of £350 per vehicle applies and applicants may apply for funding to retro-fit up to 25% of their total vehicle fleet, or five vehicles, whichever is greater. Operators can apply for other measures, or to retrofit more vehicles. These applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. The application form suggests the money could be spent on items such as hand sanitiser dispensers, easy-clean seat covers, partition screens for PHVs, and automated UV cleaning solutions for card machines. Applications are being assessed on an ongoing, first-come-first-served basis until funding is fully allocated or the end of the financial year, whichever is first. There are no restrictions on what could qualify as an enhanced measure, and the website for the scheme says applications will be reviewed on a caseby-case basis and assessed in terms of efficacy, cost, and ease of use. It goes on to list examples that could be considered by operators: n AIR QUALITY AND VENTILATION: Installation or
improvement of air conditioning units; installation of high-performance filtration systems. n STERILISATION TECHNOLOGIES: Hygienic surface coatings; UV cleaning solutions; innovative solutions based on the use of UV light to disinfect surfaces. n MOBILE/DIGITAL SOLUTIONS: Use of real time occupancy application, to monitor and receive details of vehicle passenger capacity in real time. The scheme could allow operators to purchase devices such as the AirBubbl air filtration device, or the Sany Car ozone sanitisation machine. Applicants must not purchase any measures before receiving a formal grant offer letter from Energy Saving Trust. If you do so, your application will be refused, though micro-businesses (including sole traders) that have installed and paid for measures between April 6 and October 8, 2020 may be eligible for retrospective payments.
The revised application has been approved by the city council’s licensing committee, which removed the usual licensing requirements for a vehicle to have an engine capacity of not less than 1,297cc and at least four seats. Extra conditions were imposed including giving a list of drivers’ names to the council and, although a spare tyre will not be required on the vehicle, it will be necessary to always have one in stock. Kimbrell said she had tested the Zbee vehicle in Stockholm, Sweden, where they are being used by a taxi and delivery service. Holla has purchased
n To apply for the scheme, please visit https://
energysavingtrust.org.uk/grants-and-loans/ covid-19-public-transport-retrofit-fund/ three of the £10,000 electric “pods”, which will operate in a three mile radius of Lincoln and seat up to two passengers. She said the service would be cheaper than city taxis and will be charged on a per-metre basis. She said: “The only thing the council came back with last time was that it wasn’t electric. We will be the first in the UK to have a zero emission pod taxi service.” Holla hopes to expand to 15 vehicles by the end of 2021, by which time Kimbrell hopes to employ 15-20 staff. Holla has premises on Wragby Road and is finalising a website and app.
FEBRUARY 2021
