Selco Builders Warehouse is aiming to create dozens of qualified HGV drivers through its new ‘Driver Academy’ to help tackle the nationwide shortage of hauliers.
The building materials supplier will be giving its colleagues the opportunity to complete a Level 2 HGV Apprenticeship, enabling them to become fully qualified drivers – with a Category C License – by May 2022.
Selco colleagues are being invited to apply this month with assessment days and formal classroom tuition sessions to begin in October for those who are successful.
The apprenticeships also include HIAB lorry loader crane training, while Selco is also running a programme offering the chance for its current commercial van drivers to upgrade to become HGV qualified.
Moreover, Selco has also increased its hourly rate for HGV drivers to £14 from 1 September, with an enhanced rate of £16 to be paid in London and the rest of the south of the UK.
Marc Lucock, HR director of Selco Builders Warehouse, said: “The current HGV driver shortage across the whole of the UK is being very well documented and there are a host of reasons for that, including Brexit and COVID.
“No industry or business is immune from the shortage and at Selco, we currently have more than 20 vacancies to fill, and that number is rising.
“We wanted to be proactive, not only to fill our vacancies but also play a very small part in helping to address the national shortage, and that’s why we have established the Driver Academy.”
