Drive career forward with HGV driver training

Harborough District Council has teamed up with DWP Job Centre Plus to offer training to help local people gain a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or large goods vehicle (LGV) licence to benefit from the increased demand for drivers in the logistics sector due to the combination of Covid, Brexit, tax changes and a lack of training opportunities over the last 18 months.

The new Commercial Driving Licence Support Scheme, using some of the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant funding, will support individuals who were either on furlough or on low incomes and would like to complete the relevant HGV/LGV training courses. The scheme will also fund the cost of the licence between £1,000 and £1,500.

Participants could then be supported into potential job roles as drivers.

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “Drivers are in huge demand at the moment, with significant salaries being offered to many with the right training. I would encourage  eligible local residents, those who are on furlough, or benefits such as Universal Credit or Council Tax support to take advantage of this training opportunity while they can – particularly with the vital importance that logistics has in our local economy.”

For more information visit www.investinharborough.com/logistics or contact the Council’s grants and funding officer Jaswinder Powar on 07874 876579 or email j.powar@harborough.gov.uk

There is also information about this, and other grant opportunities at www.harborough.gov.uk/covid19businessgrants