Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils are supporting 30 fully funded places to help local people get into work and higher-paid careers. Qualified drivers may secure starting salaries of around £40,000. Experienced drivers can go on to secure salaries of around £70,000 if driving dangerous goods such as fuel. The fully funded places will also help employers across Norfolk and Suffolk to find the HGV drivers they need to keep their businesses growing and support the local economy.
HGV Skills Bootcamps
The HGV Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, helping people build sector-specific skills. First launched in December 2021, the DfE has extended the programme into 2025. The funds from Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils address one of the barriers to entry for aspiring HGV drivers: cost.
HGVC will focus on supporting novice drivers to gain their Category C (rigid lorry) licence. The courses have been available to anyone in the region with a car driving licence.
Trainee drivers are currently learning the theory and practical aspects of becoming an HGV and will have passed their tests by October. Norfolk and Suffolk employers can take on these 30 drivers immediately and have them ready as drivers for the Autumn.
James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said:“Funding is a significant barrier to entry for those looking to become HGV drivers. So, these fully funded places through Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils are essential to help local people secure a well-paid career. By providing these courses, we are training the new drivers that businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk need to meet customer demand, grow and support the regional economy.
“We have a tried and tested approach to managing HGV driver training that has resulted in thousands of new drivers getting good HGV jobs across the UK. At 80%, our pass rates are significantly higher than the national average. We’re encouraging local employers to contact us if they are looking for new HGV drivers.”
Bev Wallman, Skills Broker – Norfolk and Suffolk Skills Bootcamps, from Suffolk County Council, added: “HGV drivers are essential for many local businesses based across Suffolk and Norfolk, from retailers and logistics firms to the region’s farmers and food producers. That’s why we’ve invested in helping train 30 new HGV drivers that can help these organisations grow. What’s more, we’re helping local people get a job in a well-paid and vital sector.”
Local employers keen to employ any of these new HGV drivers should email: info@hgvc.co.uk.
Image credit: HGVC