An Addison Lee driver
(Picture: Addison Lee)Addison Lee has sweetened an already attractive offer to new drivers as it prepares for surging demand post-Plan B.
The cab firm launched a push to sign-up 1,000 new drivers last October, guaranteeing them £5,000 in earnings in their first month.
It has now added extra benefits such as sick pay, maternity cover and financial support if drivers are involved in an accident. New drivers will also all be offered electric vehicles as part of a push to make the firm’s fleet all electric by next year.
CEO Liam Griffin said he wanted to make sure Addison Lee was offering “the best deal in the market.”
“This enhanced package ensures that we will be supporting our existing partner drivers, while growing our fleet to help meet rising demand for safe travel in London,” he said.
Addison Lee is understood to have signed up around half of its 1,000 target for new drivers. The sweetened offer comes as the company and other car hire firms battle to attract staff in an exceptionally tight market. Uber recently hiked its fees in London for the first time since 2017 in an attempt to attract staff and rival Bolt has let its drivers set their own rates.
Job vacancies across the economy are at a record high as a result of the pandemic. Covid has driven a rise in early retirement and mid-career gap years at a time when demand is spiking due to people’s pent up desire to go out and have fun post-lockdowns.
Addison Lee and other cab businesses are expecting a surge in demand now than Plan B restrictions have been axed. Rival Uber was reporting its highest ever demand in London before the measures came into place.
