New partnership offers Addison Lee drivers big discounts on London taxi ‘knowledge’

Mark Bursa

Addison Lee has launched a new partnership with the WizAnn Knowledge School to help black cab drivers looking to build a career.

In 2021, Addison Lee bought ComCab, one of the largest black cab operators in London, and the initiative is designed to help stem the fall in number of TfL-licensed cabbies in recent years. The latest figures show just 17,625 taxi driver licenses in the capital, down from 24,000 a decade ago.

The decline is blamed on number of factors, including the pandemic and the extensive training required. By partnering with the WizAnn Knowledge School, Addison Lee will be able to offer private hire drivers wanting to become cabbies ‘Knowledge’ training at a discounted rate.

The Knowledge involves learning every road within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. This process typically takes up to 4 years and has the potential to deter new recruits looking to kickstart both their career and their earnings.

Addison Lee’s partnership with WizAnn aims to give drivers the opportunity to ‘earn while they learn’ and is open to existing Addison Lee drivers and private hire drivers interested in pursuing a career with the firm.

With the private hire industry continuing to surge across London – with new figures showing 106,538 private hire driver licenses – there is a growing opportunity to support these drivers to pursue long-term, fruitful careers in the black taxi industry.

The firm will be delivering the Knowledge training for private hire drivers at its West Drayton Fleet Hub, and all materials – from training documents to videos, and a 24-hour support group – is being provided at a discounted rate, laddering up to no costs for drivers in the fourth year.

The deal reduces Knowledge training to £40 per month exclusively for Addison Lee, with the company covering the majority of the bills. Throughout the four-year training, the cost to drivers will be as follows:

Year 1 – Driver pays £30 per month (AL covers £10 per month)

Year 2 – Driver pays £20 per month (AL covers £20 per month)

Year 3 – Driver pays £10 per month (AL covers £30 per month)

Year 4 – Driver pays £0 per month (AL covers £40 per month)

Liam Griffin, CEO of Addison Lee, said: “We know that if we want to see the black taxi thrive, we must provide drivers with the right support and benefits to encourage them into the field. We hope our partnership will spur a positive change for the industry and uphold the rich cultural significance of London’s iconic black taxis.”

Keith Prince, chair of the Greater London Authority Transport Committee, said: “The partnership between Addison Lee and WizAnn Knowledge School signifies a much needed shared commitment to future-proofing the city’s transport network. With driver numbers falling, it’s heartening to see the proactive steps taken to revitalise the black taxi trade.”