Hundreds of Skills Bootcamps Trainees Have Completed HGV Driver Training
- As we celebrate National Lorry Week, the Driver Academy Group reveals that hundreds of trainee drivers have now passed or booked their practical training
- Showing the popularity of the Bootcamps, candidates are from all regions of England
- With more than 8,000 potential trainees waiting, the Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving will help plug the driver shortage
New data from the Driver Academy Group, the consortium leading the way with the Government-funded HGV Skills Bootcamp, shows that nearly 30% of trainees are well on their way to completing their training. Almost 600 drivers have either passed their practical test and got their HGV licence or are about to take the test. This out of almost 1,950 drivers on the Driver Academy Group scheme.
The Driver Academy Group, led by HGV training specialist HGVC and comprising workforce solutions group Manpower and trade body Logistics UK, has drawn trainees from across England, where the funding is available. The data shows that every region in England has candidates that have completed their training.
The East of England tops the list, with 94 drivers in the region who have passed or booked their practical test, or 17% of the total. The South East is a close second with 91 drivers (16%) completed or booked onto their practical training. London is third with 87 drivers (15%).
| Region | Number | Percentage |
| East of England | 94 | 17% |
| South East | 91 | 16% |
| London | 87 | 15% |
| North West | 65 | 11% |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 64 | 11% |
| West Midlands | 60 | 11% |
| East Midlands | 41 | 7% |
| South West | 40 | 7% |
| North East | 26 | 5% |
| Total | 568 | 100% |
When complete, drivers will gain their Category C license, C+E License, or be upgraded from Category C to C+E. Drivers may also gain a specialist license such as ADR or PDP (to deliver hazardous goods and fuel) enabling them to drive some of the biggest lorries around the UK. Many are already in jobs or have interviews lined up with local employers, ensuring they can use what they have learnt immediately. Qualified drivers are securing starting salaries of up to £40,000.
Launched in December 2021 the Driver Academy Group’s HGV Skills Bootcamp has attracted over 30,000 applications from potential learners and that number is rising all the time. There are still over 8,000 applicants on its waiting list keen to get on the course when more places become available.
James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “As we celebrate National Lorry Week, these numbers indicate a small but significant achievement for the HGV driving industry. Funding has been a major barrier to entry for those looking to train as HGV drivers, especially when they may not get a job at the end of their course. So, these government-funded Skills Bootcamps are making a big difference in helping to attract people into the industry, getting them trained and into good jobs. With further funding, those 8,000 people on our waiting list can help plug the HGV driver shortage and keep the UK’s supply chains moving.”
The Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving are open to anyone with a car license aged 19 and over. The training courses are available at 60 locations across the country. The flexible courses help people build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with a local employer. The Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life. The Department for Education funds the scheme.
Notes to editors
For more information, contact:
Ed Smith: [email protected] or 07983 245873
James Boyd-Wallis [email protected] or 07793 021 607
About HGVC:
HGVC offers hassle free, HGV driver training for organisations across the UK and abroad, including Amazon, the AA, Morrisons Utilities, Travis Perkins, NHS ambulance service, MOD overseas, AMEY Services and more. The business was founded in 2012 with the goal of delivering market-leading HGV licence acquisition programs for individuals and businesses. HGVC is now a leading provider of commercial vehicle training in the UK, delivering over 12,000 courses over the past five years. From initial checks and on-boarding, to preparing training summaries with results, analysis, and recommendations for improvements, HGVC transforms driver training programmes.
Via a network of HR, Learning & Development Professionals, Transport Managers, Compliance, Procurement and Training Co-ordinators, HGVC’s team keeps abreast of regulations and legislation affecting the industry. HGCV’s methodology has been perfected through years of experience managing large licence acquisition programmes across a range of clients. HGVC has developed systems, tools, and live reporting to provide support around budgeting and candidate progress.
The business has a network of 100 training centres across the UK, offering training courses for every licence category in the UK, along with driver CPC, HIAB, ADR, and forklift courses. HGVC has the highest pass rates in the business, HGVC candidates are 75% more likely than the industry standard to pass first time.
About ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win. We develop innovative solutions for hundreds of thousands of organizations every year, providing them with skilled talent while finding meaningful, sustainable employment for millions of people across a wide range of industries and skills. Our expert family of brands – Manpower, Experis and Talent Solutions – creates substantially more value for candidates and clients across more than 75 countries and territories and has done so for over 70 years. We are recognized consistently for our diversity – as a best place to work for Women, Inclusion, Equality and Disability and in 2021 ManpowerGroup was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 12th year – all confirming our position as the brand of choice for in-demand talent.
About Logistics UK
Logistics UK is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.
