Funding for HGV/LGV training?

Moonlight1971

Hi, I'm new and I hope someone can help.

My fiance is 25 and works as a driver for a hire firm on minimum wage. He has to work very long hours and we still struggle badly on such low pay. He doesn't have any skill or trade (other than 18 months on a mechanics apprenticeship which he left 6 years ago!)

He wants to do an HGV course to get an HGV licence so that he can maybe earn more, but all the private training providers charge around £2,000 and we just can't raise this money (family and friends are all unable to help, except for his step-grandfather who has plenty of money but refuses to lend it - but thats another story altogether . . . :rolleyes:)

He's apparently "too old" to get financial help from the "Skills for Logistics" young driver scheme.

We can't get a Career Development Loan as our credit rating is utterly destroyed - loads of Defaults and a CCJ and no hope of paying any of it off on such a low income - it'll be there for at least 6 years.

Some of the training companies offer "finance" deals but again, you have to pass a credit check which we won't.

It just seems wrong that a young guy who wants to earn a decent wage is being denied this chance because we're not seen as a "good credit risk" by private finance companies. Is there any help out there at all? We live in South Wales . . .

(I understand we can get a £200 ILA grant, but that still leaves £1800 to pay for . . .)

System

i know DHL have payed for employees to be trained in the past

kiwipower

Have you tried your local driver hire office. I know a few people who have worked for them and then been offered training to upgrade there licences.
Other than that talk to local haulage firms you never know one may be willing to train you. Also if you ring round your local hgv training providers many offer a free assesment drive you will then know how much you will need. My HGV C cost £1100 and my C+E cost £700

Conor_3

Seconded Driver Hire. Other than hauliers who'll pay for it but tie you into a contract for 2 years, there's nothing. If he were a prisoner, he'd get free training though.

An alternative is to join the Territorial Army Royal Logistics Corps.

To kiwipower...it's not just the cost of the LGV licence now. You also need to take a Drivers CPC before you can be employed.

bethbriuk

Don't fall into the same trap as us-Last July we paid a huge amount of money to Sterling Training-for my son to take his HGV but when they didn't come up with what was offered we complained to them in writing in November-however they didn't respond to any of our letters/emails and now say we are out of the year's timing to complete the training.We have lost over £1500 -I intend to let everyone know how they trade and maybe prevent others from using this company http://www.sterlingtraining.com/

kiwipower

Conor the drivers cpc does not come into force untill september 2008 for bus drivers.Then in september 2009 anyone passing there test after 10/09/2009 will have to take the drivers CPC.If you already hold a lgv licence you have aquired rights from this date.Either way you then have 5 years to complete 35 hours training to retain your cpc.


Bethbriuk i imagine from your post that you are on of many that applied to sterling for the free artic test,offering you free training if you pass the CPC(also free) after paying and passing your lgv 2 test. On paper it seams an excellent offer but in reality,it is the Harder of thye CPC test the expect you to pass,this CPC is mainly for Transport managers and owner/drivers much harder to study for and pass although it does include the drivers cpc.Its a very handy CPC to pass and opens doors to many other jobs within the industry.Although like you i would not recomend sterling anyone ..

bethbriuk

The big thing was that they promised my son he could train in his own area and that the extra 400 we paid was to cover three more tests and training but he ended up taking a week off work to stay in York with us and travelling to Wetherby and then when he failed his first test(the instructor fell asleep)they decided the extra fee hadn't covered more tests.we complained in November and ever since-but with no reply-now he is 3 days out of the year he had to take it all -i'm taking them to court

Auchingee

Hi, has anybody got any advice for someone who is part way through Sterlings training course and now having problems with them.
They are now saying extra training (CPC Operators Licence) is needed and more money needs to be paid to get LGV C + E artic course.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

hubert

go and see the consumer protest site www.sterlinghgvadvice.com

its a campaign against sterling lgv training run by ex students such as yourself, you may get some advice on what action to take.

this site has just come back after sterling had it taken down, it was copied and rehosted by another of thier ex students, seems theres a lot of unhappy bunnies out there.. the fight goes on.

LUCKY7_2

Yep people anyone heard of qualitas training complete rip off merchants.

paid for course upfront and the instructor was a complete !!!!!! not help what so ever. Confidence at start was brillant was so looking forward to do this but after the first lesson a just want to get away from him as was close to hitting him.

Qualitas gave me no help when a complained just didnt want to know. It has cost me £1000pound which am still paying as paid with my credit card.

It did put me of for a while but starting to look about again it would be good if a lorry company would put me through it but cant seem to find anyone that will do it. Anyone any ideas?

Or even to obtain some sort of funding as a feel cheated out of my class 2 licence but chin is still up and am determine to do it and sick two fingers up to Qualitas. So anyone using that company be very careful.

hubert

Hi, Qualitas and Sterling lgv training are the same company, just 2 different trading names of 'autosearch ltd'

Go to sterlinghgvadvice.com for qualitas and sterling information, customer comments.