Further £10m secured for West Midlands HGV driver training

The Department for Education (DfE) has announced the expansion of Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving, allocating an additional £50m and providing hundreds more funded positions across the region.

HGVC, specialising in HGV training, has been granted the maximum possible allocation for the upcoming funding round.

HGVC will collaborate with employers in the West Midlands to enhance the skills of their existing workforce, with the scheme set to start on February 1, 2024.

As a lead participant in the Government’s extended Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving, HGVC will play a role in upskilling hundreds of individuals in the West Midlands to become HGV drivers over the next two years.

These flexible courses, spanning up to 16 weeks, offer individuals the opportunity to develop sector-specific skills.

Since the beginning of Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving in December 2021, HGVC has trained approximately 1,800 drivers, with 1,121 of them securing employment. Qualified drivers are entering the workforce with starting salaries reaching up to £40,000.

James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “This is a hugely positive initiative that the Government is undertaking and something that we are proud to again be a part of. The Skills Bootcamps have made a big difference to the driver shortage, yet there’s more that needs to be done. This is a long-term issue that requires an equally long-term solution. With this funding, we can get even more drivers behind the wheel and keep Britain moving.

“Moreover, for large and small employers, 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 businesses in the West Midlands and we’re looking forward to continuing to do so.”