Bootcamps: So, you want to be an HGV Driver? Here's how.

Bootcamps: So, you want to be an HGV Driver? Here's how.

18 Jan 2022 Posted By James Evison

RHA Policy Lead – Skills and Drivers, Sally Gilson, looks through the details of the HGV skills bootcamps – and how you can access the scheme.

In November, government announced that HGV driver training would be added to the skills bootcamps. The bootcamps were set up as part of the National Skills Fund in response to the pandemic, giving the funding to retrain for those whose career had been affected.


Alternative scheme

HGV skills bootcamps offer the alternative training scheme to apprenticeships that RHA have been campaigning for.

Given that the original funding allocation for all skills bootcamps was £43million (and level 3 and above only), the £34 million announced for HGV training is a significant investment by government.

The bootcamps allow people to gain their licence to start their career or return to commercial driving by doing refresher training and completing their Driver CPC.

The details

  • Candidates can either be employed or recently unemployed
  • All candidates must hold a valid UK category B licence and be 19 years or older
  • They must live and work in England
  • Different packages are available; Cat C, upgrade to C+E, straight to C+E, Driver CPC and ADR training
  • Learners will complete 60 hours guided learning completed over a maximum of 16 weeks (subject to test availability and any subsequent re-tests).
  • Training is fully funded by Government for individuals not being co-funded by their employer and for self-employed
  • Training can be co-funded at 30% by an employer – 10% for SME employers. Where the employer is training its own employees it must be free to the individual learner
  • Training is free for the learner and includes a guaranteed interview with an employer for a genuine vacancy

Importantly this training scheme can be completed alongside someone’s current employment – they will need time off to complete practical elements of driving instruction but this has been created to be as flexible as possible.


As explained above – employers can use this to upskill current employees with a contribution of 30% (10% for SMEs) so excellent for anyone requiring an upgrade to their licence.

HGV skills bootcamps are available via training providers across England – a full list of approved providers are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-a-skills-bootcamp/list-of-skills-bootcamps#hgv-driving

  • For further information, contact Policy Lead – Skills and Drivers, Sally Gilson [email protected]

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