Transport Training Gets No Help from Emergency Budget

In the days leading up to the unveiling of the government’s Emergency Budget, there was measured optimism about a potential £150-million fund to increase transport training options for new drivers. That optimism was all but eliminated by the 8 July (2015) summer budget announcement. The government has decided not to establish the fund at this time. There are now serious doubts as to whether or not any help will be forthcoming at any point in the future.

The brush-off does not sit well with industry organisations, including the Road Haulage Association (RHA), especially after sending a delegation to speak with government officials last month. Reports from those meetings seemed positive enough to give the industry hope of financial relief. It appears now as though the meetings were mostly fruitless. The haulage and transport industries will have to find other ways to increase transport training options in the midst of a lack of government funding.

According to RHA chief executive Richard Burnett, the emergency budget will not help the industry achieve its target for new hires through this year and into 2016. Failing to meet those goals will put further stress on an industry that is already short tens of thousands of drivers. Burnett expects the shortage to reach 60,000 by the end of next year.

“This Budget does nothing to help solve the crisis, despite strong representation from across the industry,” he said. “He [Chancellor George Osborne] has even failed to support the structure put in place by the RHA and JobCentre+ to get unemployed people into driving.”

In the absence of government funding for transport training, it may be harder for some young people to come up with the money necessary to earn an HGV or PCV licence. Current drivers may find it difficult to pay for CPC training and certification if their employers do not cover the cost.

We Can Help New Drivers

The HGV Training Centre understands that while transport training may not be as expensive as going to university to earn a four-year degree, it is still cost prohibitive for far too many people. There is little we can do to change the cost at this point. However, we do partner with Pay 4 Later to provide financing on any of our courses. With this financing, you can train now while spreading repayment over a manageable period. We are the only training company offering this service.

We have partnered with Pay 4 Later because we believe in young drivers as the future of the haulage and transport industries. We want to see as many new drivers enter the industry as possible in order to fill open positions and make up for coming retirements. We believe professional driving is a worthwhile career you should look into.

If you would like to know more about our transport training courses, do not hesitate to contact us through this website or our free phone. We are ready to help you get started.

Sources:

1. Motor Transport – https://motortransport.co.uk/blog/2015/07/09/its-help-yourself-after-government-opts-not-to-back-hgv-training-fund/
2. Contractor & Leasing – https://leasing.com/car-leasing-news/budget-2015-at-a-glance/