New here. Looking to get started with my LGV licence, requested my D2&D4 paperwork off DVLA.
I have been doing some research, not a crazy amount but some, and have found and applied to a few Driving Apprenticeships, the companies I have applied for are Reynolds, Culina and Wincanton. The reason I have applied for Driving Apprenticeships is because I don’t necessarily have the money to pay for my training up front, however, I can certainly source the money if need be.
Would you recommend a 12 month apprenticeship scheme for someone in my position? Has anyone here gone down this route and/or worked for these companies?
I have had a look at some of the roles they are offering for Class 2 & 1 drivers, Wincanton seems to be residential delivers with a drivers mate, delivering furniture across London, which I am not keen on. However, they do offer some RDC work, which I am keen on. Does anyone know if I will have a choice, or as an apprentice, I’ll be given whatever jobs they decide? The other two companies seem to be mostly RDC work, which is fine.
Ideally I’m looking for long-haul work, with trunking/tramping (whichever the correct term is), less drops, more mileage. Is this work easily found as new-pass?
Sorry, I have a lot of questions. However, the main is, are apprenticeship schemes worth it, or am I better of funding the training myself? If it’s down the preference, what would you decide if you were in my position? I would like to get a grasp of the general consensus of what other drivers think of these schemes.
I’m awaiting my provisional and I’m not considering apprenticeships at all. I’m using some savings and putting the rest on a low interest credit card or loan to pay for the training.
Anything I’ve seen offering driver training is close to minimum wage and a tie in to the company for a set period of time. If it costs £3-4k out of your own pocket to get qualified, you’re probably gonna lose multiples of that working for crap wages.
silberrucken:
I’m awaiting my provisional and I’m not considering apprenticeships at all. I’m using some savings and putting the rest on a low interest credit card or loan to pay for the training.
Anything I’ve seen offering driver training is close to minimum wage and a tie in to the company for a set period of time. If it costs £3-4k out of your own pocket to get qualified, you’re probably gonna lose multiples of that working for crap wages.
silberrucken:
I’m awaiting my provisional and I’m not considering apprenticeships at all. I’m using some savings and putting the rest on a low interest credit card or loan to pay for the training.
Anything I’ve seen offering driver training is close to minimum wage and a tie in to the company for a set period of time. If it costs £3-4k out of your own pocket to get qualified, you’re probably gonna lose multiples of that working for crap wages.
I found that they give very minimal information on being tied to a contract for a set period of time, which worries me. Feels like a trap, we will pay for you to get your licence, but you must do our ■■■■ work for a ■■■■ wage, or you can pay us back with huge inflation.
I wanted to know if anyone has any first hand experience down this route, who could hopefully tell me otherwise.
silberrucken:
I’m awaiting my provisional and I’m not considering apprenticeships at all. I’m using some savings and putting the rest on a low interest credit card or loan to pay for the training.
Anything I’ve seen offering driver training is close to minimum wage and a tie in to the company for a set period of time. If it costs £3-4k out of your own pocket to get qualified, you’re probably gonna lose multiples of that working for crap wages.
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Go it alone or apprenticeship
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Ah, thank you.
I see the general consensus is avoid apprenticeships, unless no other option.
Im on a apprentiship with wincanton, have to be carefull because they give you donkey work to do, mine was warehouse picking for bnq while waiting for class 2 lessons and test which took 5-6 months on dead end wages. Just passed class 2 and are moving to wilko to be a driver now.
They have paid for everything though: medical, lessons, cpc, given time off for lessons and to complete paperwork aswell
Bigmick7:
Im on a apprentiship with wincanton, have to be carefull because they give you donkey work to do, mine was warehouse picking for bnq while waiting for class 2 lessons and test which took 5-6 months on dead end wages. Just passed class 2 and are moving to wilko to be a driver now.
They have paid for everything though: medical, lessons, cpc, given time off for lessons and to complete paperwork aswell
Thanks for the insight, you have confirmed what I was worried about with an apprenticeship. I will go at it alone.
Bigmick7:
Im on a apprentiship with wincanton, have to be carefull because they give you donkey work to do, mine was warehouse picking for bnq while waiting for class 2 lessons and test which took 5-6 months on dead end wages. Just passed class 2 and are moving to wilko to be a driver now.
They have paid for everything though: medical, lessons, cpc, given time off for lessons and to complete paperwork aswell
And this is likely the problem with most of the apprenticeships. They’ll give you most of the crap work because they know they’ve got you tied in for 2 years or whatever period they’ve specified.
I’ve been fortunate that my employer has funded mine but I’m also not tied to the company. Today is actually my last day before I start my new driving job on Monday.