• Universal Credit claimants can access fully funded courses to help them get behind the wheel and secure a job
• Local employers interested in the scheme should get in touch with HGVC and help plug their HGV driver shortage

HGVC has partnered with Maximus, one of the UK’s largest providers of employment, health, and disability support programmes, to retrain long-term unemployed people as HGV drivers. Part of the government’s Restart Scheme, HGVC will train up to 300 candidates over the next two years.  

Part-funded by the Restart Scheme and part-funded by local employers, the partnership helps potential HGV drivers overcome one of the significant barriers to becoming a driver: cost. The courses are available across South and West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South and West London. 

Local employers who need HGV drivers can apply to HGVC to recruit potential candidates whose training will then be part-funded by Maximus via the scheme. The employer’s candidate will join HGVC’s novice HGV driver training course, designed for those with only a car licence, whom they can employ after successful completion of the course. Employers will then gain drivers with a Category C licence who can drive a rigid truck above 7.5 tonnes. With no recruitment cost, and the training itself offered at a significantly discounted rate, this could be an excellent way to help plug an HGV driver shortage whilst helping a long-term unemployed person back into full-time employment.

The Restart Scheme offers Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for more than nine months enhanced support to find jobs in their local area. The scheme is part of the UK government’s ‘Plan for Jobs’, which supports people impacted by Covid. Anyone on the Restart Scheme interested in HGV driving can apply to join the course. Qualified drivers could secure starting salaries of up to £40,000.

James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “The UK needs new HGV drivers to help plug the driver shortage. But the cost of training can be a barrier to helping those out of work get into the profession. So, this partnership where long-term unemployed candidates can access training, part-funded by the government and part-funded by local employers, provides the ideal solution. Any local employers who need HGV drivers should get in touch and help get people back into work and behind the wheel.”    

As part of the collaboration, HGVC joins Maximus’ Community Partnership Network, which brings together a range of organisations to help the long-term unemployed get back into work.