Gist Opens Its Own Heavy Goods Vehicle Training And Testing Center In An Effort To Combat The Driver Shortage

In an effort to combat the driver shortage plaguing the United Kingdom, Gist has established an in-house HGV training and testing center.

Aspiring drivers can get their training and take their Class C+E driving test at the center that the logistics company has established on its own in Spalding, Lincolnshire. The center is fully accredited.

Gist is currently looking to hire up to 80 qualified Class C drivers and provisional HGV training near me license holders in the hopes that these individuals will be able to start driving for the company in time for the busiest shopping period of the year, which occurs during the holiday season.

Michael Chambers, the chief executive officer of Gist, was quoted as saying that the logistics industry has an important role to play in addressing the shortage of HGV drivers.

"The most sustainable way out of this crisis, which is likely to be with us for some time to come, is training and developing drivers right here in the United States," said one expert.

Gist, a company that provides delivery services for grocery stores like M&S and Tesco, anticipates that its newly implemented in-house training and testing program will produce up to 300 newly qualified HGV drivers each year.

If you are accepted into the program, the logistics company will pay for your entire training, including all of the associated costs and fees, as well as cover your transportation and lodging expenses.

In addition, successful applicants will be eligible for sign-on and retention bonuses of up to £5,000 that will be paid out over the course of their first 15 months of employment. This incentive was one of the measures that the company announced at the beginning of August in an effort to increase the number of applications for HGV positions.

Chambers continued by saying that while the recent intervention by the government regarding short-term HGV driver visas was "welcomed and will help deliver the nation's Christmas," it is not a long-term solution.

Recently, the government made an announcement that it would be providing temporary visas to 5,000 EU HGV drivers in order to help alleviate the strain of a labor shortage during the holiday season.

However, according to The Grocer, it is unlikely that foreign drivers will start using UK roads until the second week of November. This is because of a combination of factors, including the amount of time it takes the government to authorize the scheme and the amount of time it takes hauliers to recruit and on-board foreign drivers.

If you are looking for a reliable HGV training provider, consider HGV Training Network. They offer various training courses designed to help you get your Class C+E driving license as quickly as possible. In addition, they also offer a free job-finding service that can help you get started in your new career.