Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 22
22
We welcome the introduction of skills bootcamps as a faster, more flexible route to becoming...
Recommendation
We welcome the introduction of skills bootcamps as a faster, more flexible route to becoming an HGV driver. The Government should make the provision of skills bootcamps for HGV drivers permanent, with part of the scheme targeted at underrepresented groups in the current workforce. That policy could be funded from the sector’s apprenticeship levy contribution. (Paragraph 70) Infrastructure
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government notes this recommendation and agrees that our ground-breaking bootcamps and apprenticeship offers have started to make an impact. Good progress is being made with over 7,000 bootcamp candidates having started their driver training by the end of May 2022. The Department for Education (DfE) continue to monitor the progress and effectiveness of the bootcamps and will make any decision on further bootcamp provision based on this evidence, continuing industry labour shortages and the needs of the wider economy. In addition to Bootcamps, Government has developed a wide range of other training routes to become an HGV driver and make financial support for training available. These include the Large Goods Vehicle Driver and Urban Driver Apprenticeships funded through the apprenticeship levy. There are currently 2,599 lorry driver apprentices in training. DWP and the JobCentre Plus network provide access through the Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP). 8,716 jobseekers started a Logistics/Freight SWAP in 2021/22 with a further 467 so far in 2022/23. These figures include training for warehouse operatives, HGV drivers and other roles. The Career Transition Partnership (CTP) is the official Ministry of Defence (MoD) scheme for those transitioning from the military into civilian life providing resettlement support, career transition advice and training opportunities for those leaving military service. The Government announced in November 2021 that the places available for HGV driver training under this scheme will increase from 100 to nearly 350 training places over the next 12 months. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have a network of Armed Forces Champions placed in 37 Jobcentre Plus districts nationally to assist jobseekers who have identified themselves as service leavers to access the support and training they need. Grant funding has also been made available for the non-profit initiative Road to Logistics to train military service leavers, ex-offenders and the long term unemployed to move into jobs in the logistics sector, including lorry driving. We recognise that the lack of diversity continues to present a barrier to solving the labour shortages in HGV driving and across the wider logistics sector. This will require the sector to make working in logistics more attractive and accessible to under-represented groups. We continue to support them in this endeavour and the industry-led Generation Logistics campaign that Government is supporting is highlighting sector opportunities including to under-represented groups.