The Government are currently offering funding for Taxi Drivers to gain their NVQ in Passenger Road Transport.
More and more licensing authorities across the country are adopting the qualification as a requirement for obtaining a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers licence as where it has been enforced it has led to an increase in trade and a drop in complaints from the general public.
The Taxi Trade is one of the oldest "legal" professions in the UK and it is now receiving the status it well deserves with the introduction of a recognised qualification.
It is also expected to raise the standards of taxi services across the country.
In recent years the taxi trade has been florishing despite high fuel costs due to increased demand from people who are cutting back on their own vehicle expenses.
More and more people are giving up their own cars in favour of public transport to save money and also to do their bit for the environment. This has led to a boost in trade for the humble cabbie.
As the demand increased so did the number of unlicenced vehicles operating, but this new qualification will help to weed out the unlicenced and some times unsafe drivers helping to improve safety and service all around the country.
It's often seen as a bit of a step down when people leave recognised jobs such as carpenters, plumbers, and estate agents to become a taxi driver, but the rwality is it can be an excellent career choice, the earning potential is excellent and time off is not restricted to a few weeks a year.
There has never been a better time to become a taxi driver.
Nicholas Robu is the director of Taxi - Time Ltd and has recently written a comprehesive guide to starting your own Taxi or Private Hire Business.