We are UK Driver CPC Network Ltd. In the North East of England we were previously known as North East Driver CPC Training. We were an approved training centre working as a consortium member of R.T.I.T.B. We used as our course material their Master Driver CPC Module Programme for many years. This was put together by various leading organisations and companies including The Department for Transport, Think!, The Health & Safety Executive, British Heart Foundation, Mercedes Benz, D.V.S.A., The Highways Agency, The AA, The UK Border Agency, The AA,  TruckPol, Actia, Continental Automotive Group, Siemens, Stoneridge Electronics, Department of Health amongst many others.

We also work with other approved training centres across the UK. We like to collaborate rather than compete with other like minded good quality training providers. 

During our time with RTITB our instructors were accredited through R.T.I.T.B. and had to adhere to strict guidelines and are regularly audited by R.T.I.T.B. / JAUPT and DSA. You can read our Unannounced Audit Reports below

Our training venues are part of University of Sunderland, primarily The Industry Centre which is in Sunderland near the A19 and Nissan car plant on the A1231 (Wessington Way).  For Saturday courses we use either the Reg Vardy Centre on the St Peters Campus of University of Sunderland are St Peters Gate.

Our feedback scores from drivers attending are regularly near or at the maximum of 45 points.   

We also pride our selves on quick upload times. We upload drivers hours to the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency the very next working day to enable quick delivery of your Driver Qualification Card. 

We have ran hundreds of courses over the last few years and trained thousands of drivers for many high profile companies and organisations including  dealing with the Army and RAF bases and helping with the M.O.D.’s resettlement programme. We have been chosen by major automotive companies in the Nissan supply chain such as Unipres, Faurecia and NSK Bearings. We have also dealt with drivers from Sunderland City Council and University of Sunderland. As well as a lot of the major haulage and logistics companies in the region. Including several high profile recruitment agencies.

We have a team of qualified instructors who are managed by: 

Gary Wilkie - Profile to follow soon...  - Who has been with the company since the start.

Judith Murray - Profile to follow - Who has also been with the company since the start.

As part of our ongoing agreement with RTITB to remain part of their consortium and therefore be one of their approved training centres we have to agree to undergo unannounced audits.

Here are the auditors findings from our five visits so far:

1. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 26.02.2014

2. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 19.09.2014

3. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 11.08.2015

4. UK Driver CPC Network JAUPT AUDIT 23.1.17 - UK Driver CPC Network Limited 23-01-17

5. UK Driver CPC Network Limited - RTITB Unannounced MDC Audit 21/09/2019

6. UK Driver CPC Network Limited  - RTITB Unannounced Audit Report Matt Orrin Monday 16th November 2020 - ONLINE - Chris Chatt

1. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 26.02.2014

Auditor Name: David Cox Instructor Name: Duarte Rodrigues

Location of Audit: The Industry Centre, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 3XB

Duration: 5hours 45minutes

The auditor received further feedback from the three drivers asked. One driver stated that they were very impressed with everything which includes previous experience with UK Driver CPC Network Limited and stated you were very helpful when booking them onto the course.  Another driver mentioned that some of the sessions are repetitive, in particular with regard to vehicle checks and the third driver asked stated that some of the material/ photos appear to be dated e.g. statistics on vehicle accidents (dated 2010). I will pass the above information to my Course Development Team who will aim to respond to you within 5 working days of you receiving your report.

Thank You for your feedback regarding repetitive topics and out of date information. I will pass this information to my Course Development Team who will aim to respond to you within 5 working days of you receiving your report.

Observation & Recommendations

ID Checks

It was confirmed by the auditor that the Licence/ ID Checks were completed prior to course commencement. They were all checked and entered on to the attendance form.

MDRS Documentation

The auditor noted that instructor had not signed the attendance form when checked during the afternoon break. Due to the time checked by our auditor,  it may be that the instructor was going to fill these sections in later on in the day or on course completion, so this is fine.  The instructors signature is required just to confirm that he has checked the drivers ID, that the data protection and fair processing notice has been explained and also that times entered on the attendance form are factually correct.

Training Environment

It was confirmed by the auditor that emergency exit signs were on the door of the training room and that there were also nominated first aiders within the building, with designated first aid rooms.  The facilities used were dedicated for training and meetings so the room was spacious and comfortably fit 14 drivers, with no distractions and exclusive use.

During the audit the instructor was observed and scored against set criteria which includes, but is not limited to, pre-course preparation, training delivery and instructional skill.

Observation scores: 56/84 (45-67 Good)

Observation of Training

Thank You for your hospitality on 26th February 2014. The overall session was graded as "Good"

Your instructor, Duarte Rodrigues, was found to be well prepared and delivered the training in a professional manner. Duarte was confident and was able to answer questions clearly which gave him great credibility with the trainees. He related the training to the drivers workplace and experiences and varied the pace in order to add to the drivers knowledge. The auditor noted that Duarte added in his own personal anecdotes and had done additional research to add to the training which was relevant to the session being delivered. The auditor did mention that there were no driver handouts and no additional props used, which may have elevated the score from the 'good' to the 'excellent' banding.

Data Protection/Fair Processing

It was confirmed by the auditor that this notice was shown prior to course commencement.

Delivering as JAUPT Approved

It was confirmed by the auditor that all workshops, multiple choice questions and discussions were delivered. It was also confirmed that all objectives had been met.


2. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 19.09.2014

Auditor Name: David Cox  Instructor Name: Duarte Rodrigues

Duration: 4hours 50 minutes

Observation & Recommendations

ID Checks

It was confirmed that the ID check was completed prior to course commencement. The drivers were asked to produce their ID on arrival, then the instructor checked them and entered all details on to the attendance form.

MDRS Documentation

It was confirmed that all MDRS documentation was completed correctly and in full.

Training Environment

It was confirmed that there was an emergency exit door from the training room with the correct sign above the doorway, leading to the muster point in the front car park. It was also noted that the instructor is a registered first aider. The room used was exclusive to the training, with tables arranged in a U formation and approximately 2m of space behind each chair allowing enough room to manoeuvre. The room was air conditioned and there were also tea and coffee making facilities provided.

During the audit the instructor was observed and scored against set criteria which includes, but is not limited to, pre-course preparation, training delivery and instructional skill.

Observation scores: 62/84

Observation of Training

Thank You for your hospitality on 19th September 2014. The overall session was graded as 'Good'. Your instructor, Duarte Rodrigues, was found to be fully aware and comfortable with the material, with all relevant paperwork printed and available prior to the course start. Trainees had been instructed to arrive in plenty of time prior to the course start allowing time for ID checks and Duarte had also set out a plan/procedure for when the trainees arrived. The flip chart was used constantly throughout the training, with either the instructor using it himself to capture key points or make lists or asking the trainees to create lists themselves. It was confirmed by the auditor that all workshops were delivered very well as the instructor encouraged and explained the techniques before, during and after the exercise, he also linked back to previous sessions i.e. assessing the risk and which muscles were used to perform the task. The instructor held and controlled discussions well, constantly getting the trainees to use the white boards and actively encouraging discussions during these tasks. During session two, the instructor asked for a volunteer in which he used to demonstrate the correct posture when sitting on a chair and again standing from the sitting position. The instructor had lots of topic experience gained from his military career, which he was able to draw on, using personal experiences/anecdotes throughout. The auditor noted that even though this session was scored as 'Good', he would have in fact put it in the 'Excellent' banding as all objectives were clearly met, with the trainees encouraged to participate and kept involved throughout.

Data Protection/Fair Processing

It was confirmed that this process was displayed and explained during the introduction to the training.

Delivering as JAUPT Approved

It was confirmed that all workshops, multiple choice questions and discussions were delivered and all objectives were completed.


3. UK Driver CPC Network - RTITB AUDIT Feedback and Outcome Report 11.08.2015

Location of Audit: The Industry Centre, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR5 3XB

Auditor Name: Matt Orrin  Instructor Name: Duarte (Eddie) Rodrigues

Duration: 4h45m

Driver Feedback

One of the drivers mentioned that the course was very informative and was a good learning curve. Another driver also mentioned that the course was very informative, however they personally learn better by doing practical work, so this is one way that the course could be improved. 

Observation & Recommendations

ID Checks

It was confirmed that the instructor carried out the ID check as the drivers entered the training room. He asked for the drivers licences and checked all of the details, before recording the information on to the MDRS Attendance form. The instructor also checked that the signatures on the drivers licence matched the signature on the MDRS Registration form.

MDRS Documentation

It was confirmed that the correct MDRS documentation was being used and it was all completed correctly and in full, when the auditor checked before the morning module began.

Training Environment

There was one exit from the training room, which was clearly marked in accordance with Health & Safety (Signs & Signals) Regulations 1996 and it was confirmed that the door was unobstructed. First Aid equipment was held within the reception area at the main entrance to the building and there were three first aiders available on site. The training room was of a large size which more than catered for the 13 drivers in attendance. The prepared room was conducive to learning and there were no noise disturbances throughout the session.

Observation scores:

54/84

Observation of Training

Thank You for your hospitality on 11th August 2015. The overall session was graded as 'Good'.

Your instructor, Duarte (Eddie) Rodrigues, was found to prepared for the training, with the room and materials set out to a  a high standard, including all props and associated handouts. The white boards were utilised throughout the module and were used to generate lists by the drivers through discussion between their groups. The instructor then used the created list to go through and expand on the information given to highlight key learning points. During the workshop, the instructor spent time with both groups to encourage them and to ask conformation questions, which enabled them to complete the task. The instructor asked the whole group for answers, during the multiple choice questions, which he then confirmed with all drivers, to see if they agreed or if they had any alternate answers. The correct information was then displayed and explained by the instructor. Discussions were quiet to begin with but through good engagement techniques utilised by the instructor, the drivers felt comfortable to share knowledge and discuss in an open manner. The instructor had a wealth of experience within the transport industry and was able to use anecdotal information as well as real life experiences, which engaged the drivers in attendance. The instructor remained friendly and professional throughout the session, remaining positive and also displayed good interpersonal skills. The instructor provided a well rounded and detailed module, confirming the drivers understanding on a regular basis and the auditor confirmed that overall the objectives of the module were fully met. If you would like any further feedback, please do not hesitate to contact the auditing team via email (audits@rtitb.co.uk) and we will arrange for further feedback to be sent.

Data Protection/Fair Processing

The Data Protection policy was clearly displayed on the projection screen and explained in detail by the instructor. The instructor asked the drivers in attendance whether they had any questions, however the drivers were happy with the information given.

Delivering as JAUPT Approved

It was confirmed that all workshops, multiple choice questions and discussions were delivered as approved and all learning objectives were completed.


4. UK Driver CPC Network JAUPT AUDIT 23.1.17 - UK Driver CPC Network Limited 23-01-17

Centre Name: RTITB
Centre Number: AC00223
Course Name: Master Driver CPC Periodic Training Modular Course (LGV)
Course Number: CRS9467/223
Date of Course: 23/01/2017
Trainer Name: Duarte (Eddie) Rodrigues
Auditor Name: Paul Brocki
Arrival Time: 08:30
Departure Time: 12:15
Number of Drivers in Attendance: 16

Executive Summary:

The centre met all mandatory requirements for compliance during the visit period. The well appointed facilities were conducive to the creation of a good learning environment, with the
delivery of the course programme well managed by the trainer with trainees attentive and focused on training.

Action Points:

None

Auditor Summary:

This DCPC training course was delivered to 16 trainees by the approved centre at the centre's training venue in Sunderland The trainer confirmed that he had conducted both ID checks and course registration prior to training. 3 trainee records were selected for sampling with the auditor’s subsequent checks identifying that the documents were satisfactory. A review of the centre's registration document identified that the registration process had been followed with registration documents creating a clearly auditable trail to trainee attendance. Delivery of the course content followed the approved course programme with minor changes to the delivery of the sessions to meet the training needs of the course and trainees. The overall delivery of the course subject matter, up to the departure time of the auditor, provided sufficient evidence that the course had been delivered in line with the approved course programme.

Training Environment:

Training was delivered a well-lit room at the hosting venue, the room remained at comfortable temperature throughout the QA visit. The training room provided adequate seating and desk space for the trainees in attendance, with the room layout affording trainees direct line of sight to both the trainer and the multimedia presentation. During the observed training period, there was no evidence of any significant disruption or disturbance to training.

Course Preparation:

The trainer had prepared the training venue prior to the start of training and had all relevant training material and training aids at hand. Training content was appropriate to the trainees in
attendance and a range of training aids used during the observation period were relevant to the subject matter.

Course Introduction:

The course introduction process was well managed and included a range of pertinent course information including, but not restricted to: a safety briefing, course timings, aims and objectives and a learning agreement.

Course Delivery:

Delivery of the observed training session was conducted in a relaxed and confident style by a trainer who demonstrated considerable industry and subject knowledge throughout. The trainer adopted a presentational style for the delivery of the observed training, supporting this with his verbal commentary and question and answer opportunities. His physical position during training allowed him to make visual contact with all trainees to ensure that they were all paying attention. The trainer varied the type and scope of questions used in training, with the questions asked seen to be relevant and appropriate to the subject matter. When coupled with the outcomes from the desk based activity, they were effective in establishing that the stated objectives of the
sessions had been met.

Training aids such as video clips and activities were introduced at appropriate times to enhance the trainees’ understanding of subject matter and supplemented the presentation. They were suitable and relevant to the topics and directly related to the routine activities of trainees. The large group of trainees was effectively managed by the trainer who spoke with clarity, and used his tone of voice to emphasise key points in the training and to manage the trainees.

End of Course Process:

The trainer had available for issue at the end of training an evaluation document for each trainee, confirming that those attending for the day would be issued certificates as part of the centres post training administration process.

5. UK Driver CPC Network Limited - RTITB Unannounced MDC Audit 21/09/2019 - Instructor  Graham Welsh - Classroom

Details to follow shortly ....

In the meantime click here to view PDF

6. UK Driver CPC Network Limited  - RTITB Unannounced Audit Report Matt Orrin Monday 16th November 2020 - On-line - Instructor Chris Chatt 

Details to follow shortly ....

In the meantime click here to view PDF