Monthly Archives: March 2022

Due to a shortage of truck drivers in the UK, a Miss England beauty queen finalist is swapping high heels for high-vis as she trains to become a lorry driver. Milly Everatt, a farmer’s daughter and model from Eastoft, Lincolnshire, attempts to break the stereotype by pursuing a new career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She will undergo HGV training, and after getting the right credits and certification, she will be able to drive her own truck. HGV training is not as difficult as it may seem but does take some time to master.

Milly is currently studying for her Class 1 and Class 2 HGV licences, which will allow her to drive 44-tonne lorries. Milly is already used to driving tractors around her father’s farm and believes that the next logical step is to drive large trucks. She stated that she was inspired to do so after a combination of Covid, Brexit, and other factors resulted in a nationwide shortage of lorry drivers.

Her new job is far from her previous life as a model and Miss England beauty pageant contestant. In 2018, the former Miss Lincolnshire was crowned Miss Charity for raising the most money for charitable causes.

Four years later, Milly is on her way to becoming a lorry driver, proving that operating heavy-duty vehicles is not only for 40-year-old men. It is currently estimated that only 1% to 3% of HGV drivers are female, resulting in one of the most significant gender imbalances in British society.

Everatt says she thinks that we are in modern times when nothing can stop girls from getting involved in such careers. While it’s not the norm, it can be done. She also shared how she noticed some farmer’s daughters who don’t want to do what their parents do or have anything to do with the farm. Feminism seems to have forgotten about agriculture, she laments.

This is why she is trying to break the stereotypes. She wants to prove that the job can be done by young women as well. Milly wants to inspire other women by undergoing HGV training and becoming a certified lorry driver.

One has to go through HGV driver training to get a licence. It is much more tedious than an average driving licence. Currently, Everatt is focusing on the theory side but has also been practising driving lorries in the yard, hoping to be out on the roads soon. As discussed in this article from i news.

Everatt recalls her first time riding a lorry. She said everyone laughed when she hopped out of the lorry because of her small stature.

Getting a licence is one of her lifelong dreams aside from modelling. She said that it has always been one of the top things that she has wanted to do. She was supposed to have done it when she was 18, but that was when the pandemic hit, which was why she had to put it off.

Being able to drive a lorry can help a lot on the farm. She could use it to transport grain, for example. She says that it is something that she can use every day. What’s more, she says that the shortage of drivers for HGVs pushed her to pursue it.

Everatt applied for Miss England because of her sister and mum, who both had a modelling past. She just tried to enter the pageant and never gave it much thought, which is why it surprised her when she received a call.

National HGV Driver Shortage

Vacancies for lorry drivers in Bristol have risen sharply. This is why, in the face of severe labour shortages, the Government is introducing temporary visas for 5,000 fuel tanker and food lorry drivers to work in the UK during the Christmas season. The army has dispatched approximately 200 personnel to assist in delivering fuel to filling stations.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the city advertised 179 HGV (heavy goods vehicle) driver jobs. By July of this year, it had risen to 217, and by August, it had risen to 224. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), approximately 313,000 people in the UK worked as HGV drivers in the fourth quarter of 2019. This was reduced to 278,218 for the fourth quarter of 2020.

According to the Government, one of the causes of the driver shortage is a backlog of HGV driving tests that have not been completed due to the coronavirus pandemic and an ageing workforce entering retirement. According to data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, 23,997 tests were conducted in the fiscal year 2020/21: a decrease of 66% from the 70,288 tests conducted in 2019/20.

While the Government has offered an emergency visa scheme to help alleviate the problem, which will allow firms to hire fuel tanker drivers from abroad until March 2022, The Times reported that only 27 had applied. However, the Prime Minister later stated that the number was 127.

General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, said that everyone deserves to work to earn a decent living. But the condition of wages in sectors like logistics has been low for a number of years. Migrant workers are not to blame: it’s more to do with the flawed economic model that relies heavily on holding down workers’ rights and pay.

Make a Career Out of Driving HGVs

With the issues in the driving industry, one has to find a light at the end of the tunnel. This is an opportunity to find a fulfilling career from numerous companies looking for lorry drivers. This can help you and the economy as well.

If you’re looking for quality HGV training near me, HGV Training Network can help! You can acquire our services to secure your own licence. Our mentors are experienced and well-versed in driving trucks and lorries. They are also knowledgeable in explaining theories and practical knowledge to each student.

Browse hgvtrainingnetwork.com today for more information about our services. You can also send us your questions, and we will be glad to answer them.

If you dream of a life on the road or want an HGV licence for your career advancement, you may have tried searching for ‘HGV training near me’ in the Google search bar. But there are many options available, and that makes it hard to decide which one to choose from the list of results you get. One good tip for selecting the right HGV training centre is to look at the convenience of the location in which the training is held, along with the schedule.

Are these sufficiently easy for you to attend training during the free time you have available so you can achieve your goal? HGV Training Network offers flexible training slots in over 50 locations across the UK. So, whether you want to take lessons during the morning or in the afternoons after your day job ends, you’ll have no problem finding a location and a time to suit your schedule.

Why Choose Us?

HGV Training Network is one of the largest HGV training course providers in the UK. As noted, we have more than 50 HGV training centres across the country. We can also demonstrate many years of experience in helping train people from scratch so they can access highly paid driving jobs. Our high pass rates and 5-star feedback record for our customer service mean you can sign up with us with 100% confidence, and rest assured that your career development is in safe hands with us. We offer specialist lessons for the appropriate licences to drive:

So whatever stage you are at or want to reach, we can guide you through the whole process until you achieve your goals. We will take care of your medical, training, theory and practical tests and more. In many cases, it only takes around six to seven weeks to learn to drive an HGV and earn your HGV licence from start to finish.

And if you’re still looking for a job at the end of the process, we can help you find one that fits you. We’re partnered with Blue Arrow, which hires drivers for some of the biggest companies in the UK. We also offer the advantageous ‘Train now and Pay Later’ programme, which makes it even easier for you to get started straight away, regardless of your current financial circumstances.

Benefits of Having an HGV Licence

Proper training helps drivers work safely, smartly and efficiently. Once you’ve passed your HGV training and gained your licence, you’ll not only have gained new knowledge and experience, but you’ll also find plenty of other benefits.

Excellent Employment Prospects

One of the main reasons you probably want an HGV licence is because it can significantly enhance your opportunities for securing highly-paid work. It’s no secret that, because of a combination of factors such as Brexit, the pandemic and so on, HGV drivers are much in demand in the UK at present, and that looks likely to continue for several years to come, if not more. The logistics industry is vital to the smooth running of the country, so securing your HGV licence is likely to mean that you’ll never be without work for as long as you want it.

Career Growth Opportunities

In addition, there’s plenty of room for career growth once you become a qualified HGV driver. Once you have passed the HGV training programme and have acquired some experience, there are plenty of opportunities for career progression, and with that comes higher salaries. It all starts with gaining your licence.

Excellent pay

Although many traditional driving jobs are not recognised for earning high rates of pay, the HGV industry is an exception to the rule. Typically, you can expect to earn anything from £500 a week, rising to £55,000 a year. Recent shortages in the numbers of qualified HGV drivers have also seen salaries rise in the industry, so now is an excellent time to capitalise on that.

Overall, it’s well worthwhile taking the time to earn your HGV licence if you’re aiming to enhance your driving career prospects and earn more money. The best way to achieve that is to sign up with one of the best trainers in the country, and that is HGV Training Network. With our track record and your commitment, you will massively increase your chances of being hired by a prominent company.

HGV Training Cost

No matter what kind of career you decide to pursue, there will always be some sort of training necessary. But HGV training is about more than just preparing you for a job – it’s about value. It’s about paying only for the training you need to embark on your career as a professional driver, without having to spend money and time learning things that have absolutely nothing to do with your career choice.

Prospective students often ask what the real HGV training cost is. Unfortunately, there’s no ‘one price fits all’, because there are several stages involved in getting an HGV licence. What we can say is that you’ll pay a fraction of the cost of university education, depending on your requirements and how much you want to learn.

If you are looking for an ’HGV training centre near me’, look for HGV Training Network. We’re sure to have a location suitable for your needs. If you have any enquiries about our training courses or what it takes to become an HGV driver, please do contact us on 02038699001 or email us at contact@hgvtrainingnetwork.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How quickly can I get an HGV licence?

Typically, the practical part of any course offering ‘HGV training near me’ lasts five days, but the whole process of acquiring your licence takes around eight to ten weeks to complete from start to finish. If you’re looking to acquire your licence as quickly as possible, it’s crucial to partner with a reliable training provider like HGV Training Network.

What’s the difference between Class 1 and 2 HGV?

The distinction is straightforward: a Class 1 licence allows you to drive a category C+E vehicle, which is essentially an articulated truck (‘artic’). A Class 2 licence allows you to operate a category C vehicle, or what is sometimes known as a rigid-sided vehicle.

What is the difference between HGV & LGV?

In practical terms, there’s no real difference between an LGV and an HGV licence. The terms are interchangeable. The phrase ‘heavy goods vehicle’ (HGV) is an older one that was officially superseded by the EU term ‘large goods vehicle’ (LGV).

Can you drive straight after passing your HGV test?

Once you have completed ‘class 1 HGV training near me’ and become a professional HGV driver, you must have a valid Driver CPC card at all times. However, if you’ve completed your training but are waiting for your card to arrive, you may be allowed to drive without it.

How many HGV tests are there?

There are two key examinations that every HGV driver must complete in order to be licensed. The first is the HGV theory test, and the second is the HGV practical skills test. Typically, these two are covered during HGV training courses.

What’s the highest HGV licence?

The most comprehensive HGV licence that one can hold is a category C+E licence. The “E” in “category C+E” stands for “entitlement”, meaning that the vehicle you can drive can carry up to or over 750 kilogrammes. With this licence, you are allowed to drive a drawbar or articulated vehicle.

The Steps in Acquiring an HGV Licence

Here, we outline the steps involved in obtaining a driving licence through ‘large goods vehicle driving courses near me’:

• Step 1: The first stage is the theoretical component, which includes a multiple-choice test and a hazard spotting test. In this part, the applicant is taught all the necessary theoretical aspects of driving, handling, and reacting to various potentially hazardous scenarios.
• Step 2: During this stage, the candidates take a case studies test in which they’re provided with fictional situations or incidents that give them an exact picture of what really happens when driving a big goods vehicle. The purpose of this is to ensure drivers are prepared for the majority of the situations that typically occur when travelling long distances carrying heavy merchandise or goods.
• Phase 3: This is a test to determine practical skills. Here, drivers are tested to see if they have the ability to move a large vehicle over long distances and load heavy goods. Because driving an LGV needs a very particular set of talents, skills, and abilities, passing this test is essential.

Reasons Why You Should Become an HGV Driver

Here are several good reasons why you should consider driving lessons near me to become an HGV driver:

Not every vehicle is automated

While many blue-collar occupations have been lost due to automation in recent years, driving is not an area where this has happened and is not likely to be for the foreseeable future. Although self-driving car technology is improving all the time, humans will always be required for at least part of the operation procedure, especially with larger trucks like HGVs.

Driving powers the economy

The more lorries on the road, the more freight is being carried. This is a positive indicator of a nation’s overall economic health because it implies that people are spending more money, resulting in increased cash flow for businesses.

Things You Should Know About HGV Training

As a highly trained HGV driver, you can rest assured that you will have opportunities for employment in the long run because the logistics sector is here to stay. Despite technological advancements, driverless cars are still a way off, so qualified HGV drivers are in high demand. With the advent of Covid-19, things have never been better for HGV drivers. With an increase in Internet commerce, there is a greater need for logistics operations, ensuring that becoming an HGV driver is a secure career.

With more drivers needed in the haulage sector, now is an excellent time to get on board. If we had no HGV transport operations, the country would grind to a complete halt. It’s well worth starting to look for an ‘HGV driving program near me’ now!

If you are thinking of pursuing an HGV driving career, then why not take a look at our training courses now? Just contact the team here at HGV Training Network if you have any questions.