Category c hgv training

Derek1988

I'm 27 years old and always wanted to do hgv driving as a career. Unfortunately earning what I do I can't afford to get the money together to do the training up front and credit score isn't good enough for a loan for it. Are there any grants or companies out there that would put me through the licence for a permanent job with them.
Thanks

Derek1988

Forgot to mention I live in the Cheshire area. Any help of anyone would be really appreciated

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Save the money you need. If driving for a living is your dream you'll need to work for it :-)

SomeRandomGuy

I've been researching this too but I don't think there are any grants for funding. I'm told that some larger companies sometimes advertise for trainee drivers and then they will fund your training on the condition that you have to work for them for X amount of time or pay it back. However I have not seen a job of this kind offered yet...... I HAVE seen bus companies advertising in this way but bus driving is no a job I want.

From what I gather even when you have passed your test it can be hard to get a foot in the door because many companies demand 2 years driving experience. So the jobs on offer at first are poor pay multi drop work that the experienced guys don't want.

I estimated training costs of about £2k for cat class 2 or 3.5k for class 1. Thinking about using a credit card to fund mine. Have you got anything you can sell or maybe work overtime or a part time second job to get the funds?

bugslet

There's something called the HGV trailblazer apprenticeship that was announced before Xmas. Not sure what it entails, so worth a Google.

Depending where you are in Cheshire, Stobarts in Widnes do some apprenticeship schemes where they put you through your training, then as SRG says, you are tied into them for a few years. I don't think that's a bad deal, you get the test and experience, if they are coughing up the money it's only fair they get a return on their investment.

Whatever route you take to getting your license, you will , unless you fall lucky, have to do the carp work, but just view it as training ;-). There are firms that take on newbies, but they are few and far between. We do, but it's rare we have a vacancy. My guys earn between 35-40k on European.

If you go down the self funded route, be very wary of any company that tries to tempt you with training and a guaranteed job, it's usually a bit of a con.

Well worth heading over to trucknet a.d particularly the newbies board, you will find a lot of people wondering about doing the training and those that have passed and getting their first job.

Good luck.

Derek1988

Thanks for all the replies guys. Bugslet im in runcorn so only over the bridge but only problem with apprenticeship is its about £2:30 an hour for 2 years. Already looked into that one so only way i would be able to do that one would move back to parents. Think im going to have to save for a year or so. I know a lot of companies wont do it as if u fail its a lot of money down the drain. Read a bit online and apparently a 24+ learning loan covers it but waiting to hear back from that. When they get back in touch though SRG il come back here and let you know

bugslet

That is low pay.:-(

Good luck with the training loan. When :-) you pass your test, agency is the usual route, but try small firms, they are more flexible on the insurance thing.

In Runcorn too! Small world.

kiddy_guy

There are definitely employers who will take you on and put you through class 2 but lock you in for 3 years. Some DHL contracts for example.

BigAunty

Career Development Loan?

https://www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

cw212010

Don't waste your time, there are plenty HGV drivers out of work right now. I'm one of them with 10 years experience.

bugslet

Which could be for any number of reasons, usually geographical.

If you are down in the South east, you should be able to get a job pretty easily. I took on a 23 and a 24 year old and if they can get a job after a few months, then anyone can as you know under 25s struggle.