Building skills from within: Our apprenticeship story

As we approach National Apprenticeship Week, it’s a good moment to reflect on what apprenticeships really mean for our organisation and for the operators we represent every day.

Across the road transport sector - whether HGV, coach or van - skills are one of the biggest challenges facing businesses. Operators are managing changing technologies, new regulations, and evolving workforce expectations. That’s why Skills is one of our key organisational priorities, and why People sits at the heart of our strategic pillars.

Apprenticeships are a vital part of that picture.

They give operators a practical way to bring new talent into the industry, develop specialist skills, and build the next generation of drivers, engineers, planners and leaders. And as an organisation, we believe it’s important to lead by example.

It also echoes the message from our intergenerational workforce report which we prepared with Women in Transport, which showed how vital it is to create opportunities for people of all ages to join and grow within the sector.

This year, we’re planning to welcome a new apprentice into our tachograph team in April. It’s a role that directly supports operators with compliance and day-to-day operations, and it will give someone the chance to learn valuable, hands-on skills in a specialist area of the industry.

At the same time, we’re proud to have colleagues progressing through apprenticeship routes at different stages of their careers.

Seb has recently completed his master’s degree through our apprenticeship scheme - a significant personal achievement and a great example of how apprenticeships can support advanced professional development.

“Being able to complete my master’s while continuing to work has been a real opportunity. It’s allowed me to apply what I’ve learned straight away and develop my career at the same time.”

Hannah is currently undertaking her CIPD Level 7 qualification through the apprenticeship route, building her expertise in people management and organisational development.

“The apprenticeship has given me the chance to study at a higher level while staying connected to the practical side of HR. It’s challenging, but incredibly rewarding.”

These examples show the breadth of what apprenticeships can offer - from new starters learning core operational skills to experienced colleagues gaining advanced professional qualifications.

That’s the message we’ll be sharing with members during National Apprenticeship Week. Whether you run an HGV fleet, a coach operation or a van business, apprenticeships are one of the most effective ways to secure the skills your business needs for the future.

For us, it comes back to our People pillar and our Skills priority. Investing in individuals - at the start of their careers or further along the journey - strengthens organisations, strengthens the sector, and helps ensure road transport has the talent it needs for years to come.

As we prepare to welcome our next apprentice in April, it’s a timely reminder that every career in this industry starts somewhere.

And apprenticeships remain one of the strongest ways to open that door.