
Are More Companies Offering LGV Training?
Yes, yes they are. And the reason for that is really simple – it helps them attract more drivers. At the moment, and indeed for the past several years, the UK has been in the grips of an enormous driver shortage that has had a huge impact on the haulage industry. If you read our blog regularly then you know just how severe this is – and how much the industry is already trying to do to encourage more drivers into the industry. There have been varying degrees of success in these efforts, from not a lot of take up to a surprising flurry of activity. But what does this mean, and more importantly, will it help with the driver shortage?
The Perks of Offering LGV Training
When you think about it, offering HGV training as part of the employment package makes a lot of sense. For one, it could significantly widen the pool of talent you can recruit from, meaning you could fill vacancies within the business a lot faster. It can also help attract more diverse talent to your business, including younger applicants who may become long-term drivers, which is what the industry desperately needs more of. After all, you don’t necessarily need someone who is already trained in how to drive an HGV – you need someone who is hard-working and reliable.
It can also help you grow your business a lot faster. Rather than passing up opportunities because you are waiting for the right driver to come along, you can bring more drivers on board to support a growing business model. This also means you can make other investments, like buying new machinery or equipment, more efficiently, and use them to grow your business.
It also makes you a much more popular employer, and attractive business for recruits, customers and suppliers. It shows that you have a dedication to supporting employees in continual professional development and that you not only prioritise your ability to deliver what your customers need, but are willing to invest in it as well. In short, if you’re willing to provide training for unlicensed but otherwise qualified, drivers, then your business could see a huge number of perks. When you think of it like that, why would you not offer LGV training?
It’s Not Just Haulage
While it makes sense that specialist haulage and logistics companies would be offering LGV training as part of the employment package, they aren’t the only ones. Other industries that rely on people with HGV licenses are joining in too. For example, in local fire and rescue services have been offering full LGV training for new recruits who are willing to work part-time. This has led to several new firefighters in each station, significantly improving the service they can provide. This model works well, as it means the fire station gets new recruits, and the new firefighters have a skill they can put into a full-time job. It’s a win-win.
Just a few of the other industries that could benefit from offering LGV training include:
- Transport
- Logistics
- Distribution
- Waste Management
- Local councils
- Emergency services
- Construction
- Warehousing
And many more besides. If all of these industries were to offer LGV training to new recruits, the HGV driver shortage could well be a thing of the past.
As these trials continue, we expect more employers to start offering LGV training as a benefit to their roles. At Easy as HGV, we can work with these businesses to provide high-quality LGV and HGV training to all new recruits, ensuring business are getting the best drivers possible. Our training covers the Driver CPC, LGV theory and practical tests and full training and support throughout and beyond. If you would like to know more, just get in touch with us today.