Having already played a central part in the government-funded HGV skills bootcamps that were introduced in 2021, HGVC is set to offer almost 1,900 new HGV training places over the next two years. This is thanks to the Department of Education (DfE) committing £50m towards more Skills hgv bootcamp for HGV drivers, with £10m secured already. It’s a commitment that allows the bootcamps to keep running until at least February 2026.
This is of particular interest to both small and large waste and recycling firms looking for a lifeline, as they can access subsidies of up to 90% of the cost of HGV training to upskill their existing employees. Continuing to play a leading role in the Driver Academy Group, it’s a move designed to address the ongoing HGV driver shortage in the United Kingdom.
Plugging the HGV Driver Gap
While the current shortage of approximately 35,000 to 40,000 HGV drivers in the UK is much lower than the problem at its peak of 100,000 just a couple of years ago, there’s still a lot of work to be done to keep the trend in a downward direction. As such, these newly funded skills bootcamps will last up to 16 weeks and continue to plug the driver gap in order to keep goods moving across Britain.
As part of the program, HGVC will be focusing on helping employers who want to upskill their staff in three main ways;
- HGV training for novice drivers to obtain their rigid lorry Category C licence
- Training for Category C+E (articulated lorry) licence
- Training to upgrade Category C licence holders to a Category C+E licence.
The DfE is Offering a ‘Lifeline’ to UK Businesses
As well as offering a 90% subsidy to recycling and waste companies, the DfE is offering what has been called a ‘lifeline’ to organisations faced with budget restrictions. For businesses with more than 250 employees, funding of up to 70% of the cost of HGV training is on offer, with those with less than 250 eligible for 90% of the cost.
HGVC’s CEO, James Clifford, had this to say about the latest developments.
“For waste and recycling firms, this is a major opportunity to upskill their staff with a significant subsidy from the government. We’ve had great success over the past two years working with waste and recycling firms across England, and we’re looking forward to continuing to do so. With this funding, we can get even more drivers behind the wheel and keep Britain moving.”
Delivering Essential Qualified Drivers For the UK’s HGV Sector
While headway has been made in the ongoing battle against the HGV driver shortage, there’s still much work to be done. This latest round of government funding is great news for the industry as a whole, and the HGV training provided via these new skills boot camp places also offers a great opportunity for anyone looking for a rewarding career in the industry.
Are you running a business and looking for help overcoming the challenges presented by the current HGV shortage in the UK? You can find out what you need to know about eligibility for skills bootcamps by taking a look around the HGVC website. Alternatively, you can contact the HGVC team on 0330 818 8888 or via the ‘contact us’ link on the homepage.
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