I’m currently looking at all my options getting into the industry, I’m wondering if anyone knows of any companies out there (Kent area), Who will take me on and pay for me to obtain my licence (Obviously there is going to be a tie for a period to that company). Which i’m more than happy to do.
I’m ex forces and i’m desperate to get into the industry but unable to fund it myself. I have recently had to leave the prison service 2 years after leaving the forces due an incident and i now work in an office and i HATE it.
Anyone get any advice?
(Apologies for how blunt it is, there is no way to sugar coat it really)
You be better trying to fund yourself. I don’t like credit cards but there are quite a few doing o% interest for a long time. That way you can change companies as you please, this is not a profession I’d want to be tied to a firm for any length of time. Have you contacted I think it’s called saffa, army,navy air forces charity they may put some money towards training?
Without going into personal details (I wouldn’t have long enough or want to bore you with it ha), Obtaining credit isn’t an option for me, Unfortunately because i’m employed (work all the hours under the sun…for next to nothing) nobody will help from the military background which i think is poor but…thats the cards i’ve been dealt i suppose. They wont let me use my learning credits i have left because LGV 1/2 isnt a nationally recognised educational qualification.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I’ve rang so many companies and sent my CV but no luck whatsoever.
Being tied to a company obviously isn’t ideal but a necessary evil for me at the minute.
I’d try ssafa, I was almost right last post. They were really good at helping veterans in my last job as a Housing Officer.(I’ve actually got a job again last week in housing, leaving trucking after 3 years-not for me)
I’ve explored that route, I was entitled to higher tier which works out to around the 6K mark (3 lots of 2k) (80% of course fees).
However driving licences arn’t classed as NVQ lvl 3 (minimum) so you cant use it for that. I could however use it to pay for my LGV instructor course once qualified and obviously after 3 years experience. By which time my credits will have timed out so they’re going to go to waste at this rate. There is nothing else on offer i want to use the credits for and frankly don’t want to waste the time learning something i have no interest in doing or making a career out of.
I wish i could donate them to someone if i’m honest.
I was speaking to an ex military guy recently, he’d considered doing his TM-CPC via ELCAS, there was a place in Leeds that was running it over two weeks, which included accommodation, and came to a very convenient total of £2000…
EDIT: if TM-CPC is a new thing to you, there’s shed-loads of previous posts on this topic on these boards
Strange you should mention that, I’m currently a planner now and holy **** its not something i want to be in or associate myself with, i completely understand why drivers/operators hate their TM’s a visa versa. If i don’t end up killing someone in the office by Christmas it would be a miracle
Don’t get me wrong there are some very appetising salaries out there if you have the qual but i’m afraid its not for me.
After having such an active military career followed by the prison service, Sitting in front of a computer 10 hours a day interacting with people is a no from me.
I don’t mean to seem like i’m shooting down any ideas here, but i’m so set on getting on the road, i just want to get there.
The company i work for now (I wont mention names) do not treat their drivers how i would like to be treated and tying myself into here doing my LGV through them is not ideal.
One option (and its not one I’d have considered as im far too impatient) is get in the warehouse or office of a large company that does schemes where they will “promote” you (wrong word for it technically which youll understand when you actually become a driver!) and put you through your training and tests.
I get the impression its not something for you though but I thought id chuck it out there anyway
Krisregt, all I can suggest is you work your way up as I don’t think there is a quick way in if you aren’t able to finance yourself.
I got my class 2 by joining a foodservice company on the vans and being flexible and helpful until they felt it was worth putting me through my class II.
Sorry, but I don’t think there is any shortcut if you are unable to save up and pay for it yourself. Tooke me about 2 years.
Don’t give up though, if you really want it then you’ll get it.
krisregt7518:
The company i work for now (I wont mention names) do not treat their drivers how i would like to be treated and tying myself into here doing my LGV through them is not ideal.
In my experience, that’s most companies
I don’t know if it helps but a lot of decent driving schools have finance options, and there’s always 0% balance transfer credit cards too.
One problem is even when you do have your licence, some places insist on two years experience because “the insurance companies require it”. A couple of years back I was driving class 2 on agency, took my class 1 and passed, only to be told by that same agency they couldn’t get me any class 1 work for two years
If you want an easy way do your class 2. Jobs are there it depends where you live. Avonmouth firms are crying out for drivers. My neighbour only passed his test last Monday he has been working all week.
Thanks for all the replies,
I will be continuing the search today. Have been in touch with SSAFA and waiting to hear back from them.
I contacted Lenham last week and due to COVID they have suspended their driver training programme and don’t know when they will be restarting it so that is an option but being the impatient kind i will be continuing my search.
I would have thought it would be a massive benefit to companies to run their own driver training schemes but it appears they don’t want to do it for some reason, If i owned a company i would encourage people to train with me and make them want to stay, loyalty is a rare attribute it seems these days.
Without blowing my own trumped, I’m a grafter and not afraid of hard work, I would definitely employ me
ALDI offer a driver apprenticeship aswell and have a training depot near me so i will be sending off my application today, but they don’t seem to have any vacancies at present.
This is something i really want for many many reasons, So good things come to those who wait i suppose.
Will keep anyone who is interested updated.
krisregt7518:
I would have thought it would be a massive benefit to companies to run their own driver training schemes but it appears they don’t want to do it for some reason, If i owned a company i would encourage people to train with me and make them want to stay, loyalty is a rare attribute it seems these days.
I got my PCV license through First bus. They paid for the lot, from medical right through to the test and the deal was you had to stay with them for a minimum of 2 years after passing your test. Something like 80% of those who took advantage of the scheme got their license then buggered off to other bus companies so First stopped the scheme, which was a shame as it was a good idea that just got abused.
My guess is thats why haulage companies are reluctant to offer such a scheme
It’s a shame that there is no clause to recover the full amount should you leave before the 2 year mark in order to make sure they make the money back, I would happily sign up for that, even if i did have to earn **** for 2 years. I’d even take minimum wage, I’d rather earn minimum wage for doing something i would enjoy that earn minimum wage and hating work every day.
Although granted i imagine that the amount of people that would abuse the system you would be in and out of SCC more than its worth the hassle so i sympathise with these companies. I suppose writing im not one of them people on a CV just doesn’t cut it.
Oh well, the search still continues, I’m saving a rate of £0.50 a month so should be on the road for about the time we have automated lorries anyway.
At least i still have my sense of humour.
I sympathise with your situation as I tried saving for C+E for almost 5 years. My area had little cat C work and I managed to survive on agency and then a year in recovery work. I did move to a job in pallet freight work then lost my job when I broke my ankle as I had not worked for them for more than 3 months. I then had debt trouble and reduced credit rating - when I was 55 I could cash a small pension and pay off the debt and had enough for cat C+E (no shortage of C+E jobs in this area).
Only method of finance I could find was using a local credit union but then did not need to - with a reduced credit score they will be more prepared to listen. But I’d say use a training provider with pass protection. The test is stressful and first time I forgot to pull the break and second time I did something equally silly - third time ok. My view is only use a training provider with a reversing area and pass protection.
