Gist expands Driving Academy

Gist is expanding its driving academy so that prospective HGV drivers with no previous experience can now train up.

It said its in-house instructors and examiners will support applicants through the programme and could see candidates gain a Category C or C+E licence in seven to 14 days.

Gist’s driving academy was launched last October at its training and testing centre in Spalding.

Initially it focussed on training existing Category C and provisional HGV licence holders, but the scheme has now been expanded to anyone with a full UK driving licence and at least two years’ experience.

Gist said applicants who gain their Category C+E licence will receive competitive pay and it will fund all training costs and fees linked to obtaining the licence, as well as travel and accommodation costs, in a support package expected to save candidates up to £5,000.

It reckoned the academy will deliver up to 100 newly qualified HGV drivers for the company each year.

Julian Bailey, Gist temperature controlled logistics MD, said: “The logistics industry is still tackling a nationwide HGV driver shortage and so I’m thrilled that our in-house academy is playing a vital role in addressing that.”

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