RHA Peterborough partnership yields first driver
A joint venture led by the RHA to get more truckers behind the wheel has seen its first successful candidate secure a job.
Trucker Terry Gardner (pictured) has started work with RHA member firm DFDS in Whittlesey, Peterborough. He is the first of up to 60 new HGV drivers to come through a partnership between the RHA, Peterborough College and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority.
The training programme was launched at the start of the year to help local people secure new careers behind the wheel with RHA member firms in the area.
More than 100 people applied for the programme – which is funded by the Combined Authority – and went through a rigorous selection process with the college which runs the course.
The RHA supports candidates through the driving elements of the training, and find them employment with local hauliers once they have acquired their Cat C or C+E HGV licence. The timescale to acquire their licences is around 20 weeks.
Mark Taylor, RHA head of training and sales, England & Wales said: “I’m very proud we’re part of this fantastic training programme which is giving local people a great opportunity to create a career for themselves.”
The RHA offers a year’s ‘individual membership’ to the new drivers and further training to help them maintain their skills.
