A new Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) driver apprenticeship programme has been launched by UK infrastructure services company FM Conway.

The company aims to address the issue of LGV driver shortages nationwide with its new scheme.

The programme, developed in partnership with Scania and South Essex College, is a 13-month apprenticeship that will support new entrants into the industry as well as provide existing employees the opportunity to upskill or re-train.

Around 36 apprentices per year will learn the functional skills required to drive an LGV, alongside a comprehensive overview of health and safety protocols, sustainable and economical driving and vehicle specifications.  

-- Advertisement --

The scheme also forms part of FM Conway's wider efforts to tackle construction's major skills gap.

Liz Garvey, HR director at FM Conway, said: "The skills shortage remains a well-documented, serious challenge for construction. It affects all levels of our business, both on and off site. We need to be flexible in how we tackle the issue, providing a variety of opportunities for people of all backgrounds and ages and using funding mechanisms astutely to plug the gaps.

"The shortage of LGV drivers has the potential to seriously hamper the wider industry's ability to get materials and equipment to site. With just two per cent of drivers under the age of 25, it's clear that the sector's current recruitment process isn't working. With this new apprenticeship standard, we want to attract people who might never have considered a career in construction before or been aware of the diversity of roles it can offer.   

"However, we also need to ensure that we're retaining our existing employees and providing long-term careers for them. The beauty of this standard is that it is both a gateway for new talent and a way to help more experienced employees retrain and transition into positions that might better accommodate their needs."

(CM/MH)