HGVC, a leading HGV training specialist, has seen 127 construction firms sign up to train more than 366 new drivers so far this year.
The marked increase in the number of construction firms training new HGV drivers illustrates growth in the sector – reflected in recent government announcements regarding investment in construction and infrastructure. In July 2024, the government announced plans to build more than 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
While the increase in construction firms looking to train new drivers suggests a positive outlook for growth in the sector, it raises questions as to how firms will fund HGV driver training beyond 2025, when funding for the Skills Bootcamp in HGV driving initiative ceases. Since launching in 2021, Skills Bootcamps in HGV driving have provided a valuable option for training new drivers, or upskilling existing employees. After 2025, firms in all sectors will need to seek alternative routes to train new drivers if the UK is to avoid exacerbating the current HGV driver shortage – an issue of particular concern for sectors experiencing rapid growth.
Since 2021, HGVC has had a leading role in delivering the Government’s Skills Bootcamps in HGV Driving. The company has partnered and delivered Bootcamp courses to 965 different UK companies, of which 838 were SMEs and 127 Enterprise firms. In the last 12 months, over 2,000 employees have been upskilled using HGVC scheme alone. Over 85% of starters end up with a licence, and 98% of those who obtain their HGV licence end up in an HGV driving role with their employer.
James Clifford, CEO of HGVC, said: “To boost Britain’s economy, we need a truly sustainable HGV driver workforce, and this is especially true for the construction sector. The growth in the number of construction firms signing up to train new drivers this year illustrates how important it is that there are ongoing, affordable routes available for firms to ensure they have enough drivers to meet demand and to prevent any systemic issues from hindering growth, ambition, and productivity in the UK.”
