“If you want to get ahead,” a witty 1930s advertising slogan advised, “get a hat.” Hats may once have been required for professional advancement, but not these days (not even for chauffeurs).

Perhaps more contemporary advice would be: “If you want to get ahead, get a qualification.” A qualification? Why does a minicab driver need a qualification? What can a chauffeur learn in a classroom?

Last academic year around 6,000 private hire and taxi drivers around the country entered the classroom to take the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving. This course, specific to drivers in the passenger transport sector, was introduced in 2007 and backed by government funding to enable self-employed drivers to take it. Funding is administered by a government body and the course is overseen by GoSkills, a government-licensed organisation responsible for promoting skills development in the passenger transport sector. The NVQ itself is delivered by private sector training providers and private hire firms which have set up training centres. These centres are approved by awarding bodies such as Edexcel.

As a vocational qualification, the course is for drivers already in the trade, with the aim of reinforcing what a driver learns on the job. Although the best teacher is experience, and many drivers may find that they are familiar with much of the course content already, learning of this nature can help to underline this experience and promote best practice.

“I’m a bit more aware about things,” says Thomas Myers, a driver with West Ferry Cars, who gained his NVQ in November, “You learn to look after your passengers more.”

For some drivers it can be an eye-opener. “There are a lot of things about health and safety and customer service that I’ve learnt which I didn’t know about,” says M.Z. Hussain of Megna Cars, “I will be using it. It will make me more confident in my work.”

Already, graduates are recommending the course to their colleagues “I heard good things about the course from other drivers but, in fact, it has exceeded my expectations,” says Adeleke Fadele, a driver with Addison Lee. “It’s great to interact with drivers from other companies,” he adds.

Drivers can complete the qualification at their own pace, but generally the course takes about 30 hours, made up of both in-class instruction and on-the-road observations. To gain the NVQ drivers must prove competence in areas such as health and safety, customer service, coping with emergencies and dealing with difficult passengers. Additional optional units cover issues such as vehicle cleanliness, community transport and defensive driving.

In most cases drivers pay nothing to do the course or they get paid by the training centre at which they take it. A lot of effort and knowledge is required to set up a school, and much dedication and expertise is needed to run it successfully. Unfortunately some training providers and brokers have falsely suggested that the course is compulsory. This is to get more drivers to go through their school. GoSkills has stated that there is “no basis in the statement that NVQ qualifications are to become a legal requirement for licensing.” However, some licensing authorities outside London have insisted that drivers do the course, or one like it, as a condition of licensing.

Qualifications can represent an extra level of career development, helping to keep good people in a trade in which high turnover is a fact. For many drivers the NVQ is the first qualification they have achieved. Drivers who already have a high level of academic achievement may not qualify to have their fees paid but it is worth checking with the training provider for advice on this.

The attractions for drivers are obvious. As well as getting a bit of extra cash and a qualification at the end of it, a canny driver will arrange their training in a quieter work period. Even under present economic conditions there is still a driver shortage so work opportunities are high and barriers to entry are low, yet there may come a time when the NVQ becomes a selling point for a driver approaching an operator.

“The course is good for me and good for the customer,” says driver Ahmed Kobir, currently with Charlton Minicabs, “My advice is that all PCO-licensed private hire drivers should do this course, it will help them become better and more confident drivers.”

So, perhaps today’s advice for private hire drivers should be: ‘If you want to get ahead, get a school cap.”