Driver Academy – putting road hauliers in the fast recruitment lane
The Driver Academy can provide solutions to the many talent needs of the UK road haulage industry
Learn more about The Driver Academy
Creating the next generation of HGV drivers requires a multi-faceted approach to training, testing, and job placement. Knowing which training courses to enrol in, getting the right support through these programmes, and understanding how to get a foothold in the world of work can all cause headaches for today’s aspiring drivers. Above all, new entrants need the right qualifications to demonstrate to employers that they have what it takes to succeed in the sector.
Manpower is partnered with HGVT, the UK’s leading driver training organisation, to provide the Driver Academy. This programme equips students with the necessary training, certification and employment support to help them launch a safe and successful career as an HGV driver. Candidates get access to extensive training that builds the skills they need to become an HGV driver and to achieve the right certifications to accelerate their careers. Students also benefit from a bespoke recruitment and professional development programme tailored to their individual needs, so that they are fully prepared when entering the job market.
Driver Academy students are handpicked for success. The Academy only recruits candidates who show high motivation and are keen to become HGV drivers. The screening process is thorough - only 33% of applicants are accepted onto the training programme.
Training focuses on the skills that the logistics sector needs most. This means providing more than theory and practical training. We work with Logistics UK to give students access to customer service training and ‘A Day in the Life of a Driver’ training, so that candidates have realistic expectations of what a career as an HGV driver looks like before they take on a role.
We support candidates to achieve their CPC and tachograph cards. This means we provide road haulage clients with well-rounded candidates who are ready for an immediate start as an HGV driver.
10% of Driver Academy students are female – more than ten times the ratio of female to male drivers currently found in the industry. Bringing more women into the sector can encourage other females to become HGV drivers, giving the industry access to a vast, untapped resource.
Driver Academy is a dedicated resource for aspiring HGV drivers, but how does it support road haulage businesses?
58% of road hauliers state that a lack of qualified applicants is their biggest hurdle to driver recruitment. Driver Academy helps to lower this barrier, giving employers immediate access to a pool of qualified HGV drivers. Stop losing opportunities due to a talent shortage. Meet growing customer demand with minimal recruitment effort.
More than 150,000 HGV drivers are closing in on retirement. Others may also leave the industry through sickness or other circumstances. As more drivers leave the sector than enter it, a demographic tipping point is looming. Driver Academy can help forward-thinking freight forwarders avoid this coming crisis – expand your driver pool now to stay ahead of the driver curve.
An imbalance in open jobs and too few available candidates is putting upwards pressure on wages. Driver Academy graduates are motivated to work in the industry. Increase your pool of potential employees to put a lid on salary inflation.
Driver Academy graduates are fully trained and given extensive industry insights and real-life driver experience to prepare them for the world of road haulage work. They are trained to the latest HGV rules and regulations and to the most modern programme requirements. This means new drivers with sharp skill sets, reducing the potential for start-up issues with new recruits, and allowing businesses to benefit from a swifter time to driver effectiveness
10% of Driver Academy candidates are female and the younger age group means many are looking for employers to grow with. Such diversity supports retention as Driver Academy graduates are joining the industry for the long haul.
It also positively supports your company’s ESG which can help to differentiate your organisation with potential clients and your current and future employees, as well as driving your financial performance through a more efficient workforce.
Find out more. Read on for the case studies. See how the Driver Academy works in real life.
