A new bespoke training programme between ride-hailing giant Uber and North East Scotland College (NESCol) is directly confronting Aberdeen’s severe private hire driver shortage. The partnership, which commenced a pilot training programme in late 2025, aims to equip prospective drivers with the necessary geographical knowledge to pass the city’s mandatory ‘Street Knowledge Test’, a persistent barrier to entry in the local transport sector.
The need for such a programme is underscored by the significant decline in licensed drivers across Aberdeen, with numbers reportedly halving over the past decade. The city’s night-time economy and public safety have been adversely affected, leading to long queues and unfulfilled trip requests.
The rigorous Street Knowledge Test, which demands an intricate familiarity with Aberdeen’s road network, landmarks, and efficient routing, remains unique among Scotland’s major cities for private hire drivers, unlike in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Data from Aberdeen City Council highlights the test’s difficulty: between February 2021 and February 2024, only 65 out of 351 tests resulted in a pass, yielding a mere 18.5% success rate.
Uber argues that such examinations are “antiquated barriers to entry” in an era dominated by GPS technology. Conversely, traditional taxi operators maintain that they ensure “quality and safety” and prevent the erosion of industry standards.
NESCol’s involvement exemplifies its workforce development strategy, which focuses on tailoring provision to address specific industry skill gaps.
Duncan Abernethy, NESCol assistant principal for curriculum and commercial development, told the Press & Journal: “Following discussions with Uber, we were able to deliver to a cohort of prospective drivers as a pilot.
“The workforce development team is able to tailor provision to bridge specific gaps and the partnership with Uber is a good example of that approach in action.”
An Uber spokesperson said: “There is a long-standing and well-documented shortage of drivers in the city, and the Street Knowledge test remains a huge factor in that.
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“We’ve been working with Nescol to help people study for the test and have the best chance of passing.
“This not only creates an opportunity for people to become local drivers and have a new earning opportunity, it also helps meet the huge demand from local people for safe, affordable rides.”
Looking ahead, Aberdeen City Council is poised to launch a formal public consultation in 2026 to review its Taxi and Private Hire Policy. This consultation will explore various options, from retaining the test for all applicants to removing the requirement for private hire drivers entirely, and could also consider merging the city’s two licensing zones and revising vehicle age limits. The outcome of this review could significantly shape the future of private hire services in Aberdeen and the broader transport landscape.
