Government-funded bootcamp scheme kicks off

The first intensive short courses are now underway in a government-funded scheme to help up to 11,000 people take up careers as HGV drivers.

Funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to the tune of £34 million, the so-called skills bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks which give candidates the opportunity to build sector-specific skills and provide fast-tracks to interviews with local employers.

The first drivers to benefit from the scheme are expected to be on the road from March. The government says that courses are already in high demand, with more than 2,000 people having already expressed an interest in signing up with the National Career Service, and hundreds more via Jobcentre and the DfE helpline.

The education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “HGV drivers are vital to keeping this country moving. It’s brilliant to see the first people with their hands on the steering wheel as they head towards new well-paid careers in the industry.

“To help even more people get the training they need to be road ready, we’re expanding our HGV Skills Bootcamps to support more than 11,000 people to gain the skills they need to progress in the industry, and to help those with previous experience refresh their skills so they can get back on the road.”

The bootcamps are part of a wider drive by government to help the industry address the driver shortfall, which also includes increasing DVSA’s HGV driver testing capacity.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps added: “The government has worked tirelessly to tackle the driver shortage caused by coronavirus and years of undervalued wages. We have now introduced 32 actions to help get more HGV drivers on the road.

“It is good to see that these measures are clearly working, with the haulage industry reporting a significant increase in tests carried out and licenses issued. Now these training camps will provide a further boost for the sector as we work together towards its recovery.”

Trade body Logistics UK’s deputy director for public policy, Alex Veitch, commented: “The introduction of HGV skills bootcamps will help to attract new individuals into the workforce and are another welcome measure to tackle the driver shortage; Logistics UK is looking forward to working with government to help deliver some of these camps.

“With the driver shortage showing signs of easing, the government and DVSA must continue to build on its work to speed up the backlog of tests, to ensure these new drivers can enter the workforce as quickly and as safely as possible.”

A list of bootcamps and locations can be found here.

The Driver Academy Group, a consortium led by training specialist HGVC and comprising Manpower, the workforce solutions group, and Logistics UK, is to train and place 2,160 candidates into HGV driving roles as part of the scheme.

HGVC, which provides HGV training across more than 100 centres across the UK, will oversee the training of 750 new drivers in England, as well as upskilling hundreds of existing drivers with ADR qualifications to drive critical and hazardous vehicles like petrol tankers.

In addition, lapsed drivers keen to return to the sector will benefit from the availability of more than a thousand refresher training courses.

The bootcamps are available to anyone with a car licence aged 19 and over, and the Driver Academy Group says it is particularly keen on helping underrepresented groups such as women, those from ethnic minorities, and younger drivers. The unemployed and ex-offenders are also being encouraged to apply.

James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “We’re proud to be at the forefront of tackling an issue that affects business and consumers across the country. Funding is a major barrier to entry for those looking to become HGV drivers so this new funding from the Department for Education will make an impact.

“By providing these courses, we are training up the new drivers that the UK needs to ensure the economy keeps growing while helping existing drivers into more critical and higher-paid roles.

“We have a tried and tested approach to managing HGV driver training that has resulted in thousands of new drivers getting good HGV jobs in the UK. Our pass rates are around 80 per cent, which is significantly higher than the national average. Our partnership with Manpower Group and Logistics UK means we’re confident we can get HGV drivers into great jobs at the end of the scheme.”

David Jordan, deputy operations director for services at Logistics UK, said: “The severe shortage of HGV drivers has had a significant impact on our industry over the past year.

“Logistics UK is proud to be part of the consortium charged with providing a solution to the issue and we look forward to adding our support and expertise to the Skills Bootcamps, alongside the experts at HGVC and Manpower, so that we can identify and train the workforce which our industry needs to keep Britain trading effectively.”

Jason Greaves, Manpower brand leader UK, added: “It’s well known that the UK is facing a shortage of HGV drivers, and without action the movement of goods will be severely affected.

“Logistics is currently the most in demand sector and the UK talent shortage is currently at a 15-year-high, with 77 per cent of employers in the United Kingdom having difficulty filling jobs.

“In 2019 we took steps to offer additional support to candidates going through HGV training and help prepare them for their driving career by forming the Driver Academy with HGVC.

“Since only one per cent of the sector are female, we also want to expand the talent pool to be more inclusive via our Women In Driving development pathway and other initiatives.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with HGVC and Logistics UK to reinforce the message that we are here to support the drivers and the industry as a whole.”